Birmingham’s Photographic Pioneer: George Shaw (1818-1904)

While Birmingham celebrates figures like Boulton, Watt, and Zephaniah, the story of George Shaw, an early photography pioneer, remains largely untold. Born in Dudley, Shaw became a patent agent, chemist, lecturer, and artist. In 1839, he created Birmingham’s first daguerreotype photograph.

Shaw was deeply involved in civic and scientific life. He championed education, helped establish the city’s first free public library, and was vice president of the Mechanics Institute. His scientific work earned praise from Michael Faraday, and he lectured at the Royal Society on photographic techniques.

Alongside collaborators like Frederick Henry Henshaw and John Percy, Shaw explored electroplating and advanced photographic materials. He also painted and photographed Birmingham’s landscapes, with some of his early calotypes now held in the Musée D’Orsay.

Recently rediscovered by the late Pete James and artist Jo Gane, Shaw’s images reveal a vital chapter in the city’s industrial and artistic past. Jo Gane will present an illustrated lecture on Shaw’s legacy.

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