Robert Curzon, 14th Baron Zouche

Robert Curzon, 14th Baron Zouche ( born March 16, 1810; † August 2, 1873 ) was a noted British travelers of the Victorian age, travel writer, diplomat, and book collector who was active primarily in the Middle East. He is probably best known for, that he is responsible for the " acquisition " of some of the most important early Bible manuscripts from monasteries of the Eastern Orthodox churches.

Curzon was the son of Hon Robert Curzon, the younger son of Assheton Curzon, 1st Viscount Curzon, and his wife Harriet Curzon, 13th Baroness Zouche. He was educated at Charterhouse College and Christ Church College, Oxford.

Between 1834 and 1837 Curzon toured Egypt, Syria, Albania and the Athos peninsula in search of ancient manuscripts. In his book Visits to Monasteries in the Levant he described and justified his activities. He visited Mount Athos Agiou Pavlou monastery in 1837, and, as he told the abbot said to him: "We do not make use of the old books, and would be pleased if you would take a " whereupon he took two, including the illuminated Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander Tetraevangeliar of the 14th century, which today is located in the British Library.

Curzon was inherited in 1870 by his mother the title of Baron Zouche. He died in August 1873 at the age of 63 years and his title passed to his son Robert.

Writings

• Visits to Monasteries in the Levant, London 1849
• Catalogue of materials for writing, early writings on tablets and stones, rolled and other manuscripts and oriental manuscript books, in the library of Robert Curzon at Parham in the county of Sussex. London 1849
• Visits to the monasteries of the Levant. Journey through Egypt, Palestine, Albania and the Athos peninsula. 2, presumably with Gov. Ed Leipzig, Dyk 1854