William Friese-Greene | |
|---|---|
 Friese-Greene c. 1890 | |
| Born | William Edward Green 7 September 1855 Bristol, England |
| Died | 5 May 1921 (aged 65) London, England |
| Resting place | Highgate Cemetery |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Inventor • photographer |
| Known for | Motion pictures • printing • photography |
| Spouse(s) | Victoria Mariana Helena Friese (m. 1874-1895, her death) Edith Jane Harrison (m. 1897-1921; his death) |
| Children | 7, including Claude |
| Relatives | Tim Friese-Greene (great-grandson) |
William Friese-Greene (born William Edward Green, 7 September 1855 – 5 May 1921) was a prolific English inventor and professional photographer. He was known as a pioneer in the field of motion pictures, having devised a series of cameras between 1888–1891 and shot moving pictures with them in London. He went on to patent an early two-colour filming process in 1905. Wealth came with inventions in printing, including phototypesetting and a method of printing without ink, and from a chain of photographic studios. However, Friese-Greene spent all his money on inventing, went bankrupt three times, was jailed once, and died in poverty.