Robert Cornelius

Robert Cornelius ( * 1809, † 1893) was one of the U.S. pioneers of photography.

As a child of a Dutch immigrant Robert Cornelius attended a private school. Special interest he developed while in chemistry. In 1831 he began working for his father, but he specialized in silver plating and metal polish. He was so famous for his work, that Cornelius was commissioned shortly after Joseph Saxton produce a silver plate for his daguerreotype of Central High School in Philadelphia. It was this meeting, which aroused Cornelius ' interest in photography.

With its own chemical and metallurgical knowledge and with the help of chemist Paul Beck Goddard Cornelius attempted to perfect the daguerreotype. Around October 1839, he photographed outside the business his family. The daguerreotype thus prepared shows a non- centered man standing with crossed arms and disheveled hair. This self-portrait is the first photograph of a person.

Cornelius operation 1839-1843 two of the first photography studios in the United States. As the popularity of photography grew and more and more photographers opened photo studios, Cornelius lost interest or realized that he could make more money in gas and lighting operation of his family.