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"It’s rare for a day to go by in which the president of the United States is not seen in multiple newspaper and magazine photographs. The “clack” of shutters and the accompanying burst of light from camera flashes is part of every public event involving the chief executive. The first photograph of a U.S. president was taken on this week in 1849 — when James K. Polk, America’s 11th president, posed for his picture just before the end of his term in office. The photographer was Matthew Brady, whose extensive coverage of the Civil War would later make him famous. Today, 173,000 Americans make their living as photographers." —U.S. Census Bureau
Daguerreotype by Matthew B. Brady, February 14, 1849
Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Posted by National Geographic Staff |
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Comments
Feb 13, 2009 10PM #
great photographs
Feb 13, 2009 10PM #
I believe I was the first president to be photographed.
http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/pres/trivia.htm
Feb 13, 2009 10PM #
I believe you were! Hope you have a digital copy.
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