The Earliest Born People PhotographedThis page lists all known photographs of each person born in or before 1756, including drawings made after photographs, which are linked. See also other lists of earliest-born and firsts. This topic is still under-researched and heavily relies on internet sources. An extensive historical investigation would involve archives containing early photographs and/or other historical records, especially if they have not been digitized. As the lists show, European claims have been neglected online. If you have information that could improve this list, please email me. Old Style & New Style DatesIn 1752, the United Kingdom, along with the British American colonies, converted from the Julian (Old Style) calendar to the Gregorian calendar (New Style). The new year began on 1 January instead of 25 March and 11 days were dropped from September 1752. Several European countries had already adopted the Gregorian calendar by then. To convert Old Style to New Style dates, 11 days are added. For dates between 1 January and 25 March, one year is added as well. It should be noted that some people in America used the Gregorian Calendar before 1752. For birthdates between 1 January and 25 March before 1752 that were reported after the calendar change, it can be unclear if the date was already converted to New Style. Sometimes double dates were used, for example 10 January 1748/49, indicating that the Old Style year is in 1748 and the New Style year is in 1749, not taking the 11 days into account.
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Supported ClaimsIndividuals listed here have evidence supporting their claim. They have a contemporary birth or baptism record (or a transcription thereof) and mid-life documentation; their identity in the photograph can be confirmed by a reliable or contemporary source (within 65 years of the individual's death) or another portrait, and evidence exists that they lived after 1840, making it possible that they lived long enough to be photographed. This evidence makes them credible contenders, but this does not mean that their age has been officially validated by a reputable source; it should also be noted that I am not a specialist nor an authority at age validation. For Old Style dates pre-1752: If the date of birth occurred between 1 January and 25 March, the Old Style date is written in full in square brackets after the New Style date. If the date of birth occurred after 25 March, the Old Style date is written in square brackets between the New Style date and the year.
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Unsupported Claims |
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Individuals listed here have little to no evidence supporting their claim. Individuals marked pale yellow have evidence supporting their date of birth, but nothing confirming the identity of the person photographed. In order to be listed, claims must not exceed maximum demonstrated human lifespan (122 years), have basic biographical information, and not clearly be an image that was taken much later and/or of a person clearly much younger; such misidentifications often occur in genealogy. For perspective, Thomas Peters (1745? - 1857) was formerly verified as the earliest supercentenarian (110+ years of age). Now, that distinction belongs to Geert Adriaans Boomgaard (1788 - 1899). Oldest in Britain lists the earliest verified people who turned over 100 years old, some of whom were born in the 1730s-1750s. For pre-1752 Old Style dates: Since birth dates before were generally reported later, it is unclear if they are in the Old Style or New Style calendar.
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Post-mortem PhotographsPhotographs that were taken shortly after the person's death, i.e. the person looks similar to how they did when they were alive. Individuals whose age is supported by evidence are marked olive.
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Possible Photographs |
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Portraits that may have been based on photographs. Individuals whose age is supported by evidence are marked green.
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Unidentified PeoplePhotographs of unidentified people or identified people with no biographical information who may have been born before 1756. Ages are broad estimates.
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Cases of Mistaken Identity |
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Photographs of unidentified people or identified people with no biographical information who may have been born before 1756. Ages are broad estimates.
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