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An American archaeologist, Egyptologist, and historian was born in 1865. After completing his phd at the university of Berlin in 1894. He became the first American to obtain a doctorate in Egyptology. He is best known for his work in the field.

In 1919, he became known for founding the Oriental institute, at the university of Chicago. Now titled: Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West Asia & North Africa (ISAC)
That same year, he was elected to the American Philosophical Society. And, he became a very well known teacher, and curated some of the first Egyptian museums in United States.

Breasted played a crucial role in the early 1900s. Promoting the study of ancient near Eastern history and culture. He popularized the term “Fertile Crescent” to describe the archaeologically important areas. Modern day Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Israel

He conducted extensive archaeological expeditions in Egypt. And, contributing significantly to the understanding of ancient civilizations
His book ‘Ancient records of Egypt’ was published in 1906. It continues to be an important collection of translated texts. Which provided translations of many ancient Egyptian texts. This work remains an important resource for scholars studying the history and culture of ancient Egypt.

Breasted was also involved in public service and diplomatic efforts
He served as an advisor to president Woodrow Wilson during World War I. Involved administration and its policies in the middle East region.

Post WW1, he asked the son of wealthy philatropist, for a donation to the Univeristy of Chicago, museum and institute
In 1919, he wrote and asked John D. Rockefeller Jr. for money. He proposed founding what would become the Oriental Institute, at the University of Chicago. He had already researchd and aquired some of the artifacts for the collection at the Oriental institute. As well as, the art institute of Chicago. When it got approved. Perhaps his most well known purchases was the mummy of Meresamun. A singer from the Temple of ‘Amun at Karnak’.

He was often accompanied to Egypt by his son
Under an assumed name, Charles wrote first-hand reports of the King Tutankhamun excavation. For both the Chicago Daily News and others.

In 1923, Breasted became the first archaeologist to be elected to membership in the American National Academy of Sciences
The honor helped to legitimize archaeology. Which had sometimes struggled in American academic circles. In 1926, he served as the president of the ‘history of science society’. All helping give archaeologists the better representation we know and hear today.

He died on December 2, 1935
At 70. He picked up an infection on his way home from Egypt. And, never recovered.

Henry James Breasted’s impact on the field of Egyptology was outstanding. His efforts to promote the understanding of ancient civilizations continue to be recognized and appreciated by the academic community, and many others today.

Bibliography:

Goodspeed, George Stephen (1904). A History of the ancient world: for high schools and academies (https://archive.org/details/historyofancient00gooduoft). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.

Bull, Ludlow; Speiser, Ephraim A.; Olmstead, Albert Ten Eyck (June 1936). “James Henry Breasted 1865–1935”. Journal of the American Oriental Society. 56 (2): 113–120

Breasted, James Henry (1916). Ancient times, a history of the early world: an introduction to the study of ancient history and the career of early man (https://archive.org/download/cu31924027764996/cu31924027764996.pdf) (PDF). Boston: Ginn. pp. 100–101.

Abt, Jeffrey (2011). American Egyptologist: the life of James Henry Breasted and the creation of his Oriental Institute (https://books.google.com/books?id=YEc0bc93LwYC). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 193–194, 436. ISBN 978-0-226-00110-4.

Larson, John A., ed. (2010). “Cairo, Egypt”. Letters from James Henry Breasted to his family. August 1919-July 1920 (http://oi.uchicago.edu/pdf/oida1.pdf) (PDF). Chicago: University of Chicago. p. 269.

“Dr. Breasted Dies” (https://www.nytimes.com/1935/12/03/archives/dr-breasted-dies-noted-orientalist-authority-on-egypt-victim-at-70.html). The New York Times. December 3, 1935.”Authority on Egypt Victim at 70 Of Infection Incurred on Way Home From Expedition. Assisted at Tut-ankh-Amen Tomb. Discovered the Site of Armageddon. The following signed statement regarding Dr. Breasted’s death was issued by his doctors: “Dr. James Henry Breasted died this morning at the Harkness …”