Robert Cornelius

Robert Cornelius
Cornelius' 1839 self-portrait
Born(1809-03-01)March 1, 1809
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 10, 1893(1893-08-10) (aged 84)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting placeLaurel Hill Cemetery
Occupations
  • Photographer
  • businessman
  • manufacturer
Spouse
Harriet Comly
(m. 1832; died 1884)
Children8

Robert Cornelius (/kɔːrˈnliəs/; March 1, 1809[1] – August 10, 1893) was an American photographer and pioneer in the history of photography. His daguerreotype self-portrait taken in 1839 is generally accepted as the first known photographic portrait of a person taken in the United States, and a very important achievement for self-portraiture. He operated some of the earliest photography studios in the United States between 1840 and 1842 and implemented innovative techniques to significantly reduce the exposure time required for portraits.

He was an inventor, businessman and lamp manufacturer. He created and patented the "solar lamp" in 1843 which burned brighter and allowed for the use of cheaper lard as a fuel source rather than more expensive whale oil.

  1. ^ American Journal of Photography, Volume 14. Thos. H. McCollin & Company. 1893. p. 420.