Although portraits have been around since ancient Egypt, it was only until the 19th century that the first photo was shot. Even though photography was invented 200 years ago, before humans could turn a light switch, and women got the right to vote, it documented only a minuscule portion of history. For all the data prior to that, historians have had to get imaginative in recreating renowned historical characters. With the innovations brought about by the presence of the earliest cameras, there are prominent figures in history who got the chance to be photographed. However, most of these images are hardly known. The portraits of these historical icons might provide a whole new perspective on their lives at the time. The fact that they’ve been captured on film is incredible. Curious who they are? Some of these amazing historical figures shown behind the lens of the oldest cameras may surprise you! Here are 40 historical figures who lived long enough to be photographed:
Robert Cornelius, The First “Selfie” (1839)
Robert Cornelius The First Selfie 1839
While the first picture called Paris Boulevard was shot in 1826 by Louis-Jacques Mande Daguerre, it was only until 1839 that a self-portrait was captured. Robert Cornelius (1809 – 1893) captured the first known “selfie” when he took this hazy daguerreotype. During that time, Cornelius was working as a journeyman chemist in his own shop in Philadelphia. After ripping off his camera’s lens cap and sprinting into the picture, he held motionless for 60 seconds before jumping back to seal the lens again. According to the Public Domain Review, this was a groundbreaking effort. To signify this historical breakthrough, Cornelius inscribed the line, “The First Light Picture Ever Taken” on the back of his camera.
John Chapman, Known As Johnny Appleseed (c. 1840s)
The legendary Johnny Appleseed (1774 – 1845) of Leonminster, Massachusetts, originally known as John Chapman (1774 – 1845), devoted his life to distributing apple seeds over the Midwest. Rather than keeping the doctor away, Appleseed was dedicated to fermenting apples for the purpose of producing alcoholic cider. As History notes, no American dinner is complete without apple cider, and the majority of homes have their own little orchards. Chapman, who was well-known for his entrepreneurial spirit, frequently sold seeds to frontiersmen on his travels. He was also a generous character, bestowing his seeds on the needy.
John Chapman Also Known As Johnny Appleseed 1840s
