Cornelius Jabez Hughes facts for kids

Cornelius Jabez Hughes (born July 20, 1819 – died August 11, 1884) was a British photographer and writer. He was famous for taking portraits during the Victorian era in England. His photos are now in important museums like the National Portrait Gallery in London and The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

Early Life

Cornelius Jabez Hughes was born in Westminster, England, on July 20, 1819. His parents were David and Elizabeth Hughes. His father was a tailor, and Cornelius also worked as a tailor for a while.

In June 1843, he married Esther Wright. They had a son named Alfred on October 1, 1843. Cornelius Hughes lived most of his life in London. He also spent some time in Glasgow, Scotland. Later in his life, he moved to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. He passed away in Ryde on August 11, 1884. He is buried in Abney Park Cemetery in London.

Photography Career

After working as a tailor, Cornelius Jabez Hughes became very interested in the new art of photography. He first worked as an assistant to another English photographer, John Jabez Edwin Mayall, in London.

Around 1847, Hughes moved to Glasgow, Scotland. There, he opened his own successful photography studio. He also became a member of the Glasgow Photographic Society. In 1855, he returned to London. He even bought the studio that used to belong to his former boss, Mayall.

Later, Hughes moved to the Isle of Wight. He built a new studio there called Regina House Studio in Ryde. This location was very close to Osborne House, which was Queen Victoria's home. Because of this, the British royal family often visited his studio to have their pictures taken.

Hughes is best known for his amazing portrait photos. He captured images of many famous people and members of the royal family. Some of the important people he photographed include:

• Queen Victoria
• Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg
• Prince Alemayehu
• Princess Alice
• Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli
• John Brown, who was a close attendant to Queen Victoria

He also took pictures of the outside and inside of Osborne House. Today, his photographs are kept and shown in important collections. These include the National Portrait Gallery in London, The J. Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and the Royal Collection.

Writing and Lecturing

Besides taking photos, Cornelius Hughes also wrote a lot about photography. He wrote many guides and articles. One of his practical photography guides was very popular. Hughes also gave many lectures on different scientific topics.