James Williamson (film pioneer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other persons named James Williamson, see James Williamson (disambiguation).

James Williamson (November 8, 1855, Kirkcaldy, Fife - August 18, 1933, Richmond) was an early film developer and film director.

Williamson originally processed film for other early movie makers, and then began production of his own features. Later he went into the movie equipment manufacturing business with his son, an engineer.

Williamson was born near Kirkcaldy, Fife, and raised in Edinburgh. In 1868 he moved to London where he was an apprentice to a pharmacist, and bought his own pharmacy in 1877. In 1886 he moved to Hove in Sussex.

His pharmacy and photographic business was near G. A. Smith's St. Anne's Well Pleasure Garden, which had originally been a health spa.