The British Museum is set to appoint a German art historian as its new director.

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The British Museum is set to appoint a German art historian as its new director.

Hartwig Fischer, whose appointment has yet to be officially confirmed, would be the first non-British head of the institution since the 1860s.The last non-British head of the museum was the Italian-born Sir Anthony Panizzi, who held the post of principal librarian between 1856 and 1866.Report says Dr Fischer's appointment has been approved by the museum's trustees and will shortly be signed off on by Prime Minister David Cameron. Dr Fischer is currently director general of the Dresden State Art Collections and was formerly director of the Folkwang Museum in Essen. The present Director, Neil MacGregor will step down in December.The museum is the most popular visitor attraction in Britain, welcoming 6.7 million people in 2014.