Matthew Brady
Matthew Brady opened a photography studio in 1843 in New York City. He was primarily a portraitist, and even took photographs of President Abraham Lincoln.
During the Civil War, he decided to capture the events as they unfolded. As his eyesight was failing, he could not take the photographs so he sent out representatives of his company. These men captured portraits of soldiers, battles in action, and the aftermath.
He spent over $100,000 on the photographs expecting to be repaid by the government. Unfortunately, they would only give him $25,000 leaving him deep in debt. In 1896 he died an alcoholic in debt; however, his work as the first documentary photographer has left an invaluable resource for our country.
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