There are countless historical figures that we read about in school but never got a chance to see what they looked like. From the earliest presidents who served the United States to those abolitionists who stood for nothing but the truth or even the famous semi-mythical figure, John Appleseed (real name John Chapman), we know of their names existing on paper. The reality is that if we got a chance to see them in the flesh, it would change so much for kids and adults alike. Since the 1820s, photography has been in play and different forms, and it is pretty interesting to know that there are human records of photographs that date back as far as two centuries. Just imagine, photographic history that exists before electricity was formed, women’s suffrage was tackled, or even before modern industries existed. After going through this list, you will be surprised to know most of these figures were captured on camera…both famous and infamous. Let us know at the end which one gives you a different outlook on what you learned in history class.
President Abraham Lincoln – 1846
Abraham Lincoln could be considered one of the most influential and celebrated men in American history after the many works. Lincoln, who was born in 1809 and died in 1865, was influential because while he was elected president during one of the hardest periods in American history, he worked his way to abolishing slavery and bringing stability to the country. The Library of Congress noted that this daguerreotype is one of Lincoln’s first picture-records at 37. When this picture was taken, he was a frontier lawyer in Springfield and one of the few elected congressmen from Illinois. Based on the information given by Gibson W. Harris, a law student who served in Lincoln’s office, it is believed this photo was taken by Nicholas H. Shepherd between 1845 and 1847.
President Abraham Lincoln
President Andrew Jackson (c. 1844 -1845)
Andrew Jackson was born to a low-income family in 1767 but didn’t let that determine who he would be in the years that followed. After much hard work and determination, Jackson became a war hero, lawyer, and elected president of the United States of America. He classified himself as a “people-person” but based on some of those people who had to work directly and indirectly with him, they categorized him as an oppressor.History has his treatment of Native Americans to be awful and disgraceful. During the early days, the Cherokee were granted a piece of land by the US Supreme Court but were challenged by Georgia. When they reached out to Jackson to help them, he simply “turned his head away” and never listened to their plight. Instead, his neglect led to what is known as the Trail of Tears, a period where thousands of Cherokee were killed. Records have it that this photo was taken by Edward Anthony between 1844 and 1845 and was produced by the Matthew Brady Studio.
President Andrew Jackson
Annie Oakley (c. 1899)
Apparently, her name wasn’t Annie Oakley as we presumed, but that does not change the fact that she was a great markswoman. At the tender age of 15, Oakley managed to outgun Frank Butler, a professional sharpshooter. After a few years, Butler married Oakley and made her his assistant and road partner. The two worked so well until Oakley eventually outdid Butler, and, in turn, Butler ended up becoming her assistant instead. Oakley went on to become a famous figure in the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and demonstrated her greatness in being an accurate shooter. She managed to fire at glass balls as they were tossed through the air, playing cards and one time dislodging a cigarette from Butler’s mouth perfectly. The Chief Sitting Bull referred to her as “Little Sure Shot,” while Queen Victoria called her a “very clever little girl.”
Annie Oakley
Arthur Wellesley – 1st Duke of Wellington (1844)
Arthur Wellesley was born in 1769, and among the many formal titles he was given, the most recognized was the 1st Duke of Wellington. He was also the commander of the British army that led through the Napoleonic Wars. Throughout the years, he did a whole lot that gained him the recognition that he needed before he died in 1852. Wellesley became a renowned European figure after he won the Battle of Waterloo – more so a powerful hero that is lifted high among everyone who came to know him. His character – loved by all – earned him the position of Britain’s prime minister from 1828 to 1830.
Arthur Wellesley
Billy the Kid (1878)
Billy the Kid was the nickname given to Henry McCarty, a famous figure in history who was born in 1859. Interestingly, his name alone was not the deal-breaker for him but more so for those who managed to rise up through his existence. He was also known as William H Bonney, but sadly, he only lived up to 21 years old as he was killed by Pat Garrett, a Sheriff from Fort Summer, NM. The photo shown here is only one of two that is said to exist of McCarty and was discovered in a pile of photos that was stacked away at a junk shop in Fresno, California. It was found by a historic collector back in 2010. The pic was captured during the summer of 1878 while he was returning from a wedding with his friends and family.
Billy The Kid
Buffalo Bill Cody (1911)
We all know him as Buffalo Bill, but he was born William Frederick Cody in 1846. He is recorded in history as a Pony Express rider, a frontiersman, and was a popular face in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World. Cody’s appearance on the Wild West Show gave him a celebrity status – one of the first to be regarded as such in the world. How did he get the name “Buffalo Bill”? History has it that in 1867, Cody signed a deal to provide buffalo meat to the Eastern Division workers responsible for working on the Union Pacific Railroad construction project. Bill did well for himself when he came to his theatrical tricks, but his riding and marksmanship were standout features for him. This is supported by his impeccable years serving as a scout for US Army Lieutenant General Philip Sheridan.
Buffalo Bill Cody
Butch Cassidy (1900)
Butch Cassidy was born Robert Leroy Parker in 1866 and could be considered as one of the most intriguing outlaws of the Old West – if the stories are anything to go by. John D. Barton of Utah State University noted that Cassidy and his gang operated around the turning of the century and conducted the most train and bank robberies ever recorded in America’s West history. The photo depicted here was cropped from what is popularly known as the Fort Worth Five as Cassidy was seated among his cronies known as the “Wild Bunch.” John Swartz is responsible for this photo as it was taken from his Fort Worth, Texas-based studio in 1900. The Wild Bunch had a lot of famous characters of the day to include Flat-Nose Curry, Kid Curry, News Carver, Elzy Lay, Tall Texan, the Sundance Kid, Bob Meeks, Laura Bullion, and Camilla “Deaf Charley” Hanks.
Butch Cassidy
Calamity Jane (1901)
Martha Jane Cannary was born in 1852 and was more popularly known as Calamity Jane. She was an American frontierswoman and was discussing tall tales and Wild West legends in every conversation. The photo shown here was taken in 1901 while she was in her home in Livingston, MT.
There are many stories surrounding who Calamity Jane really was, and, of course, a lot of these might be myths, so much, so we are not able to determine the sole truth. Either way, most of history’s records have her as a dishwasher that served at Fort Bridger, a Union Pacific laborer, a General Custer Scout, and a teamster. But, with all the stories going around, we can safely say she was a performer, an adventurous individual, and knew what it meant to get through hard living.
Calamity Jane
Charles Darwin (1869)
Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who was far above most of the famous scientists known in history and has had a greater impact than most. He was born in 1809 and was the foundation on which modern evolutionary studies were built and strived to this day. Darwin was instrumental throughout his entire life, as at the time of his death, evolutionary imagery was already a part of politics, science, and literature. The photo pictured here was taken by Julia Margaret Cameron, who was also responsible for capturing shoots of other historical characters like John Herschel and Alfred Tennyson. You can find a description of this photo at the Victoria and Albert Museum detailing Darwin and his family’s life after moving to the Isle of Wight, where they rented a cottage and noting the privilege to be graced with the likes of such great men. Cameron later made a carbon copy of the picture so it could last longer.
Charles Darwin
Daniel F. Bakeman, The Revolutionary War’s Last Surviving Soldier (1868)
Daniel F. Bakeman was born in 1759 and can be said to live a well-fulfilled life until he died in 1869. Bakeman was recorded in history as one of the last 14 survivors to live through the Revolutionary War and the last of the period to receive a pension. During his last four of his service years, he worked under Captain Van Arnum and Colonel Marinus Willett’s likes. Records indicate he was always present whenever they called on him, especially for political occasions. As he would call it, “Independence Day,” Bakeman could be seen going through the neighborhood with his musket on his shoulder, firing and shouting “Hurrah!” It is also worth noting that those days would see him rising very early in the morning.
Daniel F Bakeman
Emily Dickinson (c. 1847)
When it comes to literature and the world of poetry, the name Emily Dickinson sure should ring a bell as she lived her life to earn her the position of one of America’s most revered poets. Dickinson had a few of her works published while she was alive but left behind a rich collection of her poems and inspirational words. Sadly, though, she suffered from poor health and agoraphobia. This daguerreotype is said to be the only true representation of who Emily Dickinson was and was a gift presented to Amherst College by Millicent Todd Bingham in 1956. Bingham received the photograph back in 1894 from Wallace Keep, brother to a friend of Emily’s sister, Lavinia, who gave it to him as a treasure.
Emily Dickinson
President Franklin Pierce (c. 1851-1860)
Franklin Pierce was born in 1804 and was elected the 14th president of the United States of America. Interestingly, the National Constitution Center tried their best to give him a good rating for his service by noting he had a rough presidency. However, Pierce’s most concrete compliment was that he was quite handsome and only had hopes of doing better in his second term in office. Pierce never got a second term in office as his own party voted against him because of his contradicting way of ruling. The sad part is that being a Northerner, Pierce was all about slavery and was instrumental in the signing deal of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. This action saw a previous ban on slavery in the areas north of 36 degrees latitude being revoked. Pierce, at one point, had to beg for his home not to be destroyed by an angry mob because of his dissatisfaction with Abraham Lincoln’s presidency.
President Franklin Pierce
Frederick Douglass (c. 1847-1852)
In history, Frederick Douglass will be remembered as history detailed his escape from slavery in Maryland to be a forerunner for those who “didn’t have a voice.” Douglass was by far one of the greatest abolitionists of all time. The daguerreotype pictured here was done by Samuel J. Miller between 1847 and 1852 in Akron, Ohio. The Art Institute of Chicago notes that Northeastern Ohio was the home of abolitionism before the Civil War and Douglass had the notion that this photo would be showcased to his supporters all around the globe. In essence, he did pose for a lot of photos but was mindful to keep his public image intact on all occasions. Nineteenth-century feminist, Elizabeth Cady, noted this photo showed Douglass quite “majestic in his wrath” as he was on a mission for good.
Frederick Douglass
George Armstrong Custer At West Point (1859)
This photo was taken before George Armstrong managed to grow out his curly locks and interesting mustache and while he was a cadet at West Point. Born in 1839, Custer was not the best academically as he scored the lowest in his class but would end up getting a lot of fame in the Civil War. Many would consider him a daring cavalry officer, while others classified him as a foolish one. The historic figure worked hard to gain a good reputation as an “Indian Fighter” but was seen by many as theatrical with doubtful tactical abilities. Custer oversaw the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, which saw wars being led against women, children, and the elderly. Today, he will certainly not be forgotten for his 1876’s Battle of the Little BigHorn defeat.
George Armstrong Custer At West Point
Geronimo, or Goyahkla (1887)
Geronimo was born in 1829 and was an Apache leader and medicine man and was considered a popular figure who was sought by up to one-fourth of the US standing army. History has him as the “last Native American leader who ended up surrendering to the US military in a formal manner. For the last two decades of his life, he was a prisoner of war. Interestingly, Geronimo was granted permission to appear in Wild West Shows as well as appear at the world’s fair. He was also present at the inauguration ceremony for President Theodore Roosevelt. He used the opportunity to ask Roosevelt to return his people to Arizona but was refused the offer. Geronimo noted his meeting with the president ended with him saying they were bad Indians who abused his people and would have to be assessed before that request could be considered.
Geronimo
Grigori Rasputin With His Family (1911)
Grigori Rasputin’s life was described by many as mythical, yet stories somehow had a realistic touch. He was considered a mystic and the power behind the sustenance of the Russian monarchy. This lifestyle led to him being a target of many assassination attempts, which he mostly sidelined. However, he could only go so far before he was cut down by Prince Feliks and a few of his group conspirators.In this photo, you can see Rasputin posing with his wife, Praskovia Dubrovina, and eldest daughter, Maria. There are also a few of his followers in the snap while they were in St. Petersburg doing their daily routine of traveling to different locations to complete their select missions.
Grigori Rasputin With His Family
Harriet Beecher Stowe (c. 1870)
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American author and abolitionist who used her skills in writing to leave powerful words we have come to know and love today. She wrote books such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which was a detailed reality of the life of slaves and the idea of the practice being very much sinful. To note, she was a stern Christian who followed the doctrine to the core. The book became very popular and garnered much success to the point Stowe toured the US to promote her work as well as her abolitionist missions. But, while slavery was getting a flashback, the need for women’s rights was almost on the back burner. Their rights were so much that they were banned from speaking to large groups, especially one that contained a lot of men. As such, her husband, Calvin, and one of her brothers did the talking for her. Here is a cropped photo of her with her brother, Henry Ward Beecher.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Tubman (c. 1868)
One of the most powerful women in history, Harriet Tubman, was born Araminta Ross in 1822 and lived a life with many to tell. Tubman was an escaped slave who also served as a nurse, advocate for women’s suffrage, a Union spy, and the conductor for the Underground Railroad that managed to channel a lot of enslaved people to freedom. This photo of Tubman was taken sometime around 1868 or 1869 by Benjamin F. Powelson while she was in Auburn, NY. The original photo owned by Emily Howland, a famed philanthropist, had Tubman’s signature attached at the bottom. So, what does seeing her photo do for you, knowing you had a piece of her history in school?
Harriet Tubman
Helen Keller (c. 1904)
Helen Keller was born in 1880 but sadly lost her sight and hearing ability at the tender age of 19 months. But, she didn’t let her disabilities be a drawback for her passion for helping as she later became one of America’s most powerful activists for people suffering from disabilities. She was also instrumental in the labor industry as well as women’s suffrage. Interestingly, as the years went by, Keller knew she wanted to achieve more, so she worked at becoming a writer and lecturer. History saw Keller becoming a historian as she was invited to the White House by every president to include Lyndon B. Johnson and Grover Cleveland. She was on a mission to alter the way people around the world see others who had a disability.
Helen Keller
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1857)
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born in 1806 and was considered the second “greatest Briton” in history. Working as an engineer, his works were instrumental to the development of the United Kingdom. Brunel’s legacy is quite rich as, according to London’s Design Museum, he built twenty-five railway lines, more than a hundred bridges that included dock systems and multiple piers, and made several army field hospitals.The photo pictured here was taken in 1857 by Robert Howlett, which saw Brunel standing against some of the projects he created. The iron steamship was measured against many others but turned out to be roughly six times larger than any of the ships built in that time. Brunel cherished his work and later called the ship the “Great Babe.”
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
President James K. Polk (1849)
James K. Polk is not really known by many in the modern era, but that still doesn’t change the fact that he was really efficient in his life, leading to what we know now as great America. To date, he is considered a strength to politics as he is considered the “most successful President to take after George Washington in carrying out plans he set to accomplish. Interestingly, Polk brought to life almost all the plans he made while he was on the campaign trail, and he also managed to fulfill all of his party’s platform promises. Some of these accomplished promises included creating a new federal depository, obtaining territories like Oregon, New Mexico, and California, lowering tariffs, and bringing to an end the Texas border dispute. Take note, the executive branch of the party was also strengthened in the process.
President James K Polk
Confederate President Jefferson Davis (c. 1861)
Jefferson Davis was deemed the Confederate President during the US Civil War. He operated as a Mississippi senator, a veteran of the Mexican War, and the Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce. Born in 1808, the historical figure lived a full and accomplished life until he died in 1889.The Confederate eventually surrendered in 1865, and Davis was arrested and charged for treason but yet, never went to trial. It turned out, Davis was preparing for a court date but wasn’t granted one as he was ready to fight back and defend the states leaving the Union. Instead of giving Davis a chance to make his claim, President Andrew Johnson signed a deal where he pardoned all the Confederates on December 25, 1868.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis
Jesse James (c. 1876-1882)
Jesse James bore his name while he engaged in his many outlawed activities – a big difference when it comes to other Old West figures. James was pulled into the Civil War after he and his stepfather were ambushed by Union Militia, who were after his brother Frank. It turned out Frank was a Confederate guerilla. Sadly, the stepfather was executed, but James managed to pull through but ended up becoming a part of the Confederacy. When the war ended, James was shot by Union troops but survived and later went on to become an outlaw with his brother Frank who teamed up to rob banks, trains, and stagecoaches. But, seeing his life was on the radar, it was only a matter of time before someone struck him – Bob Ford, a new member of his group. Along with his brother Charlie, Ford faced execution for the crime but was pardoned by the Missouri governor. The Ford brothers used Jesse James’ life as a motivation for a traveling show, but that didn’t turn out too well.
Jesse James
Johnny Appleseed – John Chapman (c. 1840s)
We know a lot of you thought Johnny Appleseed was a figurative character, but we are here to tell you – he was a real person! John Chapman was born in Leominster, MA, in 1774 to a farmer dad who managed to give him a good life no matter what. Chapman did plant some Appleseed but noted for the most part that they were not for simply consuming but more so to make an alcoholic beverage, cider. History has it that cider has essential benefits and was a “must-have” for all dinner tables in American homes. Interestingly, most homes had a small orchard seeing it was of such importance. Chapman would travel around and give away seeds as a “good deed” and, over time, developed an overly generous attitude. The seeds were given to everyone, especially to those in need, to help themselves out.
Johnny Appleseed
John Brown (c. 1846-1847)
Many famous figures on this list were totally against slavery and wanted to do something about it. John Brown was one of them. Born in 1800, the American abolitionist was on a mission to end slavery by all means in the United States. Brown might be remembered in history for the October 1859 raid on Harper’s Ferry – what we now know as West Virginia. He was the forerunner in that march, but after the raid ended unsuccessfully, Brown was charged and later executed on December 2, 1859. The Daguerreotype pictured here is the earliest and closest to what Brown looked like and was created by Augustus Washington, an African-American photographer. He noted the pose and flag had significant meaning. They could not be left out as the pose (with one hand raised) symbolized his fight against slavery. In contrast, the other handheld his “Subterranean Pass Way” – an alternative Underground Railroad they used.
John Brown
John Herschel (1867)
Sir John Frederick William Herschel was born in 1792 and later became an English polymath and an astronomer. Herschel was also a tower of strength in the photography industry and used the word in just about everything he did – even though he didn’t come up with the word.This portrait of Herschel was taken in 1867 by Julia Margaret Cameron. She left the description noting she had always loved and admired Herschel and had very committed and trusted friends for well over 31 years. She noted the privilege of sharing Herschel’s portrait with the world should be given to no one but her. Cameron made a total of four releases of Herschel’s portraits, and he noted he preferred this one compared to the others.
John Herschel
President John Quincy Adams (1843)
President John Quincy Adams was born in 1767 and was one of the rare kinds who we could say was farsighted and underrated for the most part. He had many things going differently for him as he was not a founding father – a first for an elected president, Adams was also the first son of a president to be elected into office and the first president to marry someone who was not born in the US. Adams might not be the first president to have his photo taken, but we can safely say he was the first president to be photographed. Philip Haas took the daguerreotype pictured here in 1843 while Adams was in his Massachusetts home. But sad to say, not much is known of this figure nor of the photo that was taken of it.
President John Quincy Adams
President John Tyler (c. 1845)
President John Tyler will never be forgotten in history not because he was the tenth President of the United States of United but how and why he became the president. Born in 1790, Tyler served as the Vice President to President William Henry Harrison but soon became the president after Harrison died just a month into becoming president. As a result of this, Tyler became the first VP to get the top position. However, due to the circumstances that led to him becoming president, a lot of critics nicknamed him “His Accidency” because they thought he got the position through an accident. Interestingly, the US Presidential history catalog does not rank the reign of President Tyler with high esteem, possibly for the fact that he wasn’t “truly elected.” However, there is one important fact you would love to hear…Tyler still has a living grandchild alive to this day…he is 93 years old, Harrison Ruffin Tyler.
President John Tyler
Mark Twain (1908)
Born Samuel Clemens in 1835, Mark Twain worked his way to becoming one of America’s most prolific writers. The Florida, MO native is highly regarded under the adult literature category. He is popular for books like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and The Prince and the Pauper. But, we have to admit most of his writings contained lifestyle occurrences during his age. Laura Trombley describes Twain as “America’s first celebrity.”Interestingly, Twain would always wear a white suit in public, but he decided to “compromise” to suit the requests of the photographer for this photo. According to the Los Angeles Times, this photo is a rare capture of Twain that was taken close to the end of 1908. The red dressing gown was a request from Alvin Langdon Coburn, the photographer, who believed if Twain were wearing his traditional white outfit, the picture wouldn’t have been this classic.
Mark Twain
President Martin Van Buren (c. 1852)
Martin Van Burn was born in 1782 and held the position of the eighth President of the United States of America and the first President to be an American native and not British. History has Van Buren to be one who created a legacy based mostly on division, yet he had a somewhat great impact on the political growth of the country. Even though Van Buren has much better photos, this one was chosen due to the story aligned to it. This photo depicts Van Buren’s visit to Brady in the midst of a raging storm that was hitting the country. But when asked why he chose to come under such harsh weather conditions, Van Buren noted he was a man of his words, and if he said he was coming, once it is possible…he will make it.
President Martin Van Buren
Robert Cornelius – The First Self Photographer (1839)
This photo of Robert Cornelius bears significant powers as it was the first of what is so prevalent in our society today. Even though it was neither the first photo was taken (Window at Le Gras, 1826 received that award) nor the first to have human representation (the award given to Louis-Jacques Mande Daguerre’s Paris Boulevard), it was the first selfie to be taken in history. Cornelius was an amateur chemist who thought it would be interesting to take a photo of himself while in the back of his Philadelphia-based family store. Records detail Cornelius took the picture by removing the cap from the camera, running into a position where he could be captured, and then returning the cover. At the back of the photo, he wrote the words “The first light Picture ever taken, 1839.”
Robert Cornelius
Robert E. Lee and Son, William Henry Fitzhugh Lee (c. 1845)
Robert lived a contrary life when he became the Confederate military bandleader in the Civil War, but that didn’t dampen his character as a good man of honor and one that was highly respected. Lee noted he was not a secessionist but thought he had to step into Virginia’s defense after the state made the decision to leave the Union. Roy Blunt Jr., who did a biography of Lee, noted it was not really secession, but more of slavery, and that alone cast a lot of negative light on Lee’s honorable status. This daguerreotype of Lee was taken while he was with his second son, William Henry Fitzhugh “Rooney” Lee. The photo was taken sometime around 1845 by Micheal Miley. An interesting point to note, William eventually joined the Confederate cavalry and would later rise to the rank of general. Taking after his father, perhaps.
Robert E Lee And Son
Daimyo Shimazu Nariakira – The First Successful Japanese Photograph (1857)
Japan was introduced to photography by Dutch merchants who generally traded in Nagasaki Bay. Eventually, a photography book titled Sensei-Kikijutsu would soon be published and released in 1854 by Kawamoto Komin. However, three years later, this said daguerreotype of Shimazu Nariakira was released and officially the first Japanese photo to be taken. Shimazu was born in 1809 and died in 1858. Nariakira was said to be a Japanese feudal lord, more popularly known as daimyo, of the Satsuma fiefdom. Historical records note that Shimazu adopted a lot of the Western military techniques, which he incorporated in his territory, making Satsuma one of the most powerful fiefdoms in that country. This power also helped him and his fiefdom to overpower the Tokugawa state and later establish a new imperial central government in 1868.
Daimyo Shimazu Nariakira
Queen Victoria (1857)
Queen Victoria was born in 1819. According to Royal.uk, she was one of the most instrumental figures responsible for Great Britain’s growth, economic progress, and empire’s overall strength. After she died in 1901, historians believed the empire she left was one that the sun never set on. This particular photo was first linked to J. Mayall but was later produced by Leonida Caldesi in April 1857. In the years that followed, Caldesi would also produce photos of other members of the family.
Queen Victoria
Vincent Van Gogh (1873)
Vincent Van Gogh lived a relatively short life from 1853 to 1890 but is now considered one of the most prolific visionary post-impressionist painters. Sadly, Van Gogh suffered from depression and mental illness, which led him to take his life at the tender age of 37. Most of the fame he now has can be attributed to Jo van Gogh, his sister-in-law, who got the images from her husband, Theo, Vincent’s brother. Jo decided she needed the world to see her brother-in-law’s works and made it her mission to publish them to the world, for the most part, through exhibitions and art shows. There are numerous photos going around detailing to be that of Vincent, but none is really authenticated. This one pictured here is said to be of him when he was 19, but a lot of people believe it is a photo of Theo.
Vincent Van Gogh
Wild Bill Hickok (c. 1860s)
Born James Butler Hickok in 1837, many people would refer to him as Wild Bill, a lawman, and an American frontiersman. He is a legend in his own rights as he is responsible for highlighting a lot of the popular figures of the Wild West. The photo presented here may be of Hickok during the 1860s, even though the Heritage Auction gives no date. Hickok was a peace officer in Deadwood, SD, when he met his demise after Jack McCall labeled false accusations against him. It all started when McCall was beaten in a poker game and, as a form of revenge, he claimed that Hickok was responsible for his brother’s death. A year later, McCall was tried twice for the accusations he declared, and when found guilty, he was executed that same year, 1877.
Wild Bill Hickok
Wyatt Earp (c. 1868)
Wyatt Earp was very much an active part of the Wild West, where he served as a lawman and would eventually play a role in the infamous O.K. Corral gunfight. The photo depicted here is claimed to have been taken sometime around 1868 in Lamar, MO, where Earp was between the ages of 20 to 22. Earp lived through the years and created a legacy that many people would come to admire, especially those who starred in an early Western film in Hollywood. Earp was instrumental in many Hollywood Western movies in the latter part of his life and has come to know and graced many actors and directors’ lives. One of his closest friends was Tom Mix, who even served as a pallbearer at his funeral.
Wyatt Earp
Conrad Heyer – The First Photographed American (1852)
Conrad Heyer was born in 1749 and was an instrumental figure in the American Revolutionary War, which was under the guide of General George Washington. History notes that Heyer was also in General Washington’s company when Delaware’s historic crossing was done. However, this claim has gone under a lot of scrutiny for authenticity. Recorded history also indicates that Heyer may have been the earliest-born person – possibly in the entire world – to have been photographed. At the age of 103, daguerreotype captured his photo in 1852. This is certainly a treasure worth keeping and cherishing. How much do you know about him?
Conrad Heyer
Wilbur and Orville Wright (1909)
The Wilbur brothers are known as the fathers of modern aviation and were the first to achieve flight status with a “heavier-than-air craft. The first successful flight for the brothers took place on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk. Wilbur was born in 1867 and died in 1912, while his brother Orville was born in 1871 and died in 1948. Orville was asked by the St. Louis Post Dispatch in 1943 how he felt about the aviation industry’s overall evolution and especially how they were used in WWII. The Wilbur brother noted he thought they had created something that would bring peace to the world, but they were wrong. He noted the man had turned what was meant for good into benefiting evil. There were certainly no regrets on their part for such inventions, and no more damage could be caused further than what was already being done with it. This picture shows the brothers at their home in Dayton, OH.
Wilbur And Orville Wright
M. Lefebre – One of Napoleon’s Army’s Last Surviving Veteran
History seems to only have limited information on Monsieur Lefebre aside from the info that he was a sergeant in Napoleon’s 2nd Regiment of 1815 Engineers. Interestingly, though, we can source some information based on this photo depiction of Lefebre according to Brown University.The university’s record indicates that most of these photos of the Napoleon Army members’ photos when taken and produced in detail would be around age 70 or 80. This means the depiction here showcases some of the Grande Armée and the Grand’s only surviving veterans while they wore their uniforms and insignia. However, some of the uniforms may have been adjusted during the early 1850s to fit. It is possible this photo was taken on May 5, 1858, to commemorate the anniversary of the passing of Napoleon. The university also notes these are some of the earliest photographs of war veterans to be in existence.
M Lefebre