1. The article narrates the story of a man born 364 years ago who became a prolific collector through his profession as a physician. 2. He collected a vast array of items including plants, animal specimens, coins, statues, and shoes, amassing a collection of 71,000 objects. 3. Upon his death in 1753, he bequeathed his collection to the government for £20k, a price significantly below market value, leading to the establishment of the British Museum and the concept of publicly owned museums.