The world’s first selfie was taken in 1839 by 30-year-old amateur chemist and photography enthusiast Robert Cornelius in Philadelphia (USA). His self-portrait was taken outside his family store to ensure adequate light and with a “camera” that basically consisted of a box outfitted with a lens from an opera glass. Using the daguerreotype photography process at the time, Cornelius removed the lens cap, ran into the frame where he sat still for 10-15 minutes, and then ran back to replace the lens cap! The off-centre, self-portrait of Cornelius with crossed arms and tousled hair, now resides at the U.S. Library of Congress, with his scribbled note on the back: “The first light picture ever taken. 1839.”
Cornelius, the son of a Dutch immigrant, had developed an interest in chemistry at school. After leaving school, he worked for his father, specialising in silver plating and metal polishing, Mashable reported. Cornelius made a silver daguerrotype plate for a photographer named Joseph Saxton, which sparked his interest in the field of photography.
Following the self-portrait, Cornelius became a photographer specialising in portraits, but he only operated for about two years. He later returned to his father’s lamp business which he managed for 20 years and held many patents (licence) for improved lamp designs. In fact, the business became the largest lighting company in America.
Cornelius retired in 1877 as a wealthy man. He died in 1893, aged 84.
Credit : DNA India
Picture Credit : Google
