Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Alexander Gardner was born in Paisley, Scotland, on 17 October 1821. In May of 1851 Gardner visited the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London, where he saw the photographs of Mathew Brady. Upon his return to Scotland, Gardner began to experiment with photography and devoted his time to learning about this new art. In the spring of 1856 Gardner and his family immigrated to the United States and Gardner initiated contact with Mathew Brady. Brady hired Gardner and in February 1858, Gardner was put in charge of Brady's gallery in Washington, D.C., where he quickly developed a reputation as an outstanding portrait photographer. In 1861 Allan Pinkerton recommended Gardner for the position of chief photographer under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Topographical Engineers. Gardner was appointed to the staff of General George McClellan and photographed the battle of Antietam. Gardner would go on to photograph the battle of Gettysburg and the siege of Petersburg as well. After Abraham Lincoln's assassination in April 1865, Gardner was asked by the War Department to take pictures of the accused Lincoln conspirators and he was the only photographer allowed into the execution of four of the conspirators on 7 July 1865. Gardner continued to prosper as a photographer until his death on 10 December 1882 at the age of 61.

From the description of Glass-plate negative of Gardner Lincoln portrait [graphic]. (Indiana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 56576403

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