Herbert Bowyer Berkeley facts for kids

Herbert Bowyer Berkeley (born March 27, 1851 – died May 26, 1890) was an English photographer and a chemical engineer. He was known for his important discoveries in photography. Herbert went to Uppingham School. He was also a member of the Royal Photographic Society and showed his photos in exhibitions from 1874 to 1889.

Herbert's Early Life

Herbert Bowyer Berkeley was born on March 27, 1851, in Cotheridge, England. While at Uppingham School, he became very interested in chemistry thanks to his science teacher. After school, he lived at his family home, Cotheridge Court.

In the 1870s, Herbert became a hobby photographer and a chemical engineer. He loved trying out new ways to develop photos and testing different photography materials. Many of his first pictures showed the beautiful woods and fields near his home. By early 1881, he moved from Cotheridge to live in London.

Photography Experiments

In the 1870s, photographers often used a method called the "wet-plate" process. This meant they had to prepare the photographic plate right before taking a picture, which was a lot of work! Even though photography was still quite new, people were always trying to make it better.

Herbert experimented with "semi-dry collodion plates," which were plates that were pre-coated and easier to use. He made an important discovery: by adding a chemical called sulfite to a developing solution, he no longer needed another chemical called dithionite. This made the developing process simpler and better. Herbert shared his discovery in 1881.

A Chemical Engineer's Work

In 1882, the British Journal of Photography Almanac published Herbert's new formula for developing photos. This formula used pyrogallol, sulfite, and citric acid. Just before using it, a little ammonia was added to make the solution more alkaline (the opposite of acidic).

While in London, Herbert worked with the Platinotype Company. Here, he teamed up with William Willis. The company even sold a product called "Berkeley's Sulpho-pyrogallol Developer," named after his special formula.

Photography Career

Herbert Bowyer Berkeley showed his amazing landscape photographs in exhibitions held by the Royal Photographic Society. He displayed his work between 1874 and 1889. In 1886, he won a medal for a beautiful picture he took in the Dove Valley in Staffordshire, England.

His Final Years

Sadly, Herbert's health began to get worse. In 1889, he left England and traveled to Algiers, hoping that a drier climate would help him feel better. He passed away in Algiers at the age of 39. He was not married. A special plaque in his memory hangs inside St. Leonard's church in Cotheridge, close to where his family lived. Herbert Bowyer Berkeley's important discoveries and contributions to photography were not fully recognized during his lifetime.