William Henry Fox Talbot - The Almost Founder of Photography

Photographer William Henry Fox Talbot, William Fox Talbot, Fox Talbot, Henry Fox Talbot, Henry F. Talbot, H.F. Talbot, H. Fox Talbot, or William Talbot, was born on February 11, 1800. He was a pioneer photographer who made major contributions to the development of photography, especially vis-à-vis the invention of 'Positives & Negatives' and the use of developing agent, Gallic Acid, for 'Latent Images.' These techniques of Talbot were universally followed across the globe for the nineteenth and twentieth century photographs. William's photographs of "Oxford," "Paris," and "York" are the milestones of their types.

The only child of William Davenport Talbot and Lady Elisabeth Fox Strangways, William Talbot studied at Rottingdean, Harrow, graduating eventually as Twelfth Wrangler, in 1821, from The Trinity College, Cambridge University. At Cambridge, he was awarded with the Porson Prize in Classics, in 1820. From 1822-72, he wrote mathematical papers for the Royal Society venturing later for chemical subjects as well, in various science journals. William began optical researches and photographic experiments by early 1834. He briefly served as a Member of Parliament for Chippenham, between 1832 and 1835. Though he clicked the brilliant picture of the lattice window of Lacock Abbey in 1835, Henry's new responsibility did not leave him with much time for his experiments. He also held the office of High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1840, when he also clicked "The Footman."

In 1839, Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre, a French chemist and artist announced his discovery of 'frozen images.' Talbot was upset, because he feared his photographic work was similar to the Daguerre's. On January 25, 1839, he displayed his work at the Royal Institution and communicated his 'Photogenic Drawing Process' to the Royal Society. It was a little late however, since the Daguerre's process had claimed all the fame and Louis Daguerre was named the Founder of Photography. Although in the long run, the Daguerre process was rarely used and it died commercially by 1865.

In 1841, Talbot announced his invention, the 'Calotype,' or the 'Talbotype' process. It involved the use of a photographic negative from which multiple positives could be created. In 1842, he received the Rumford Medal from the Royal Society for his invention. Talbot's years of hard work and money on these experiments justified enough reasons for him to patent the 'Calotype' process. He went for the patent in 1841. This act generated quiet a controversy and earned him great criticism, as it made the 'Calotype' process expensive for general use, which in turn was thought to be stifling the growth of photography. He eventually relieved his patent in 1854.

Talbot compiled the very first commercial book of photographic illustrations called "Pencil of Nature." It was published in six installments between 1844 to1846. He set up The Reading Establishment in 1843, which was a photographic processing studio. The Establishment lasted only a few years, as it was not a financial success. Talbot also discovered the photomechanical reproduction methods, 'Photographic Engraving' process in 1852, and the 'Photoglyphic Engraving' process in 1858.

William Henry Fox Talbot was a man of varied interests and intelligence. Along with being a photographer, he was a linguist and even devoted time to archeology too. He published books, like "Hermes" (Classical and Antiquarian Researches) in 1838-39, "Illustrations of Antiquity of the Book of Genesis" in 1839, and "English Etymologies" in 1846. He was also a part of a team along with Dr Henry Rawlinson and Dr Edward Hincks, as the very first deciphers of Cuneiform Inscriptions of Nineveh. William Fox Talbot never stopped his researches and experiments. He was driven to make his visions a reality. He passed away on September 17, 1877, in Lacock Abbey Village. He was buried next to his wife in the churchyard.