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Fenton, Roger, 1819-1869

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1819 - 1869

Biography

Roger Fenton (1819-1869) was an early British photographer and one of the first war photographers.

Roger Fenton was born on March 28, 1819, in Bury, Lancashire, England to Elisabeth Apedaile and John Fenton. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 1840 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1841, Roger began attending University College and studying law, but he did not qualify as a solicitor until 1847. He married Grace Elizabeth Maynard in Yorkshire on August 29, 1843, and together they had five children. In 1847, Roger began to study painting under Charles Lucy and exhibited paintings at the Royal Academy in 1849, 1850, and 1851. He visited the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851 and became interested in photography. Roger traveled to France to learn the waxed paper calotype process and was exhibiting photographs by 1852. Roger was appointed the first official photographer of the British Museum in 1854. In 1855, he went to Crimea and took photographs to document the Crimean War. He died August 9, 1869, at his home in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England.

Citation:
Wikipedia.org, via WWW, December 29, 2014 (born on March 28, 1819 in Bury, Lancashire, England; graduated from the University of Oxford in 1840 with a Bachelor of Arts degree; In 1841, he began attending University College and studying law, but he did not qualify as a solicitor until 1847; married Grace Elizabeth Maynard in Yorkshire in 1843; in 1847, he began to study painting under Charles Lucy and he exhibited paintings at the Royal Academy in 1849, 1850, and 1851; visited the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851 and became interested in photography; traveled to France to learn the waxed paper calotype process and was exhibiting photographs by 1852; in 1854, he went to Crimea and took photographs to document the Crimean War; died August 8, 1869 at his home in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire)

FamilySearch, December 10, 2024 (parents John Fenton and Elisabeth Apedaile; had five children; married August 29, 1843)

Met Museum, via WWW, December 10, 2024 (appointed the first official photographer of the British Museum in 1854)

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

British headquarters / Roger Fenton

 Item — Oversize-folder 1
Identifier: MSS 9241
Dates: 1856
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

General Bousquet's quarters looking towards Mackenzie Farm / Roger Fenton

 Item — Folder 1
Identifier: MSS 8630
Scope and Contents

Black-and-white photograph of a campsite during the Crimean War with texts and a group of men gathered in the center (51 x 57 cm). The photograph was taken by Roger Fenton. Item dated 1855.

Dates: 1855
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

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