Augustus Washington
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Augustus Washington (1820/1821 - June 7, 1875) was an African American photographer and daguerreotypist, who later in his career emigrated to Liberia. He is one of the few African American daguerreotypists whose career has been documented.
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[edit] Biography
He was born in Trenton, New Jersey as the son of a former slave and a woman of South Asian descent. He studied at Oneida Institute in Whitesboro, New York and the Kimball Union Academy before entering Dartmouth College in 1843. He learned making daguerreotypes during his first year to finance his college education, but had to leave Dartmouth College in 1844 due to increasing debts. He moved to Hartford, Connecticut, teaching black students at local school and opening a daguerrean studio in 1846.[1]
Despite his success he decided to resettle to Liberia as he was worrying about his future as an African American in America society. He moved in 1853 with his wife and his two small children. He opened a daguerrean studio in the capital Monrovia and also traveled to the neighboring countries Sierra Leone, Gambia and Senegal. He later gave up his photographic work and became a sugarcane grower and politician, serving in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. He died in Monrovia in 1875.[2]
[edit] Works
 Portrait of Chancy Brown, sergeant-at-arms for the Liberian senate. |
 Portrait of Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the first and seventh president of Liberia. |
 Portrait of Urias McGill, a merchant in Monrovia. |
[edit] References
- ^ The Connecticut Historical Society. Augustus Washington: Hartford's Black Daguerreotypist. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ National Portrait Gallery. A Durable Memento. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
