John Benjamin Stone facts for kids
Sir John Benjamin Stone (born 9 February 1838 – died 2 July 1914) was a British Conservative politician and a talented photographer. He is remembered for both his public service and his amazing collection of photographs.
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Early Life and Family
John Benjamin Stone was born in Birmingham, England, in 1838. His father managed a glass factory. In 1860, the family took over the business.
Later, Stone became a very successful paper manufacturer. He married Jane Parker on 5 June 1867. They were together for almost 50 years.
A Career in Politics
Stone was very involved in local politics. He helped start the Birmingham Conservative Association. This group supported the Conservative political party.
He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham East. He served in this role from 1895 to 1909. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the country's parliament.
Stone was also a member of the Sutton Coldfield Corporation. This was the local government for the town. He became the first Mayor of Sutton Coldfield in 1886. He held this important job for four years.
He was honored with a knighthood in 1892. This meant he could use the title "Sir." In 1902, he was given another important title: High Steward of Sutton Coldfield.
Photography and Travel
Sir Benjamin Stone was a very active amateur photographer. He loved to travel and take pictures. He took an incredible 26,000 photographs during his life!
He traveled to many places, including Spain, Norway, Japan, and Brazil. As he traveled, he also wrote books. Some of his books included A Tour with Cook through Spain (1873) and Children of Norway (1882).
Stone had a special goal with his photography. He wanted to "portray for the benefit of future generations the manners and customs, the festivals and pageants, the historic places and places of our times." This means he wanted to record how people lived and what they did for future generations to see.
His work helped inspire many later photographers. He created an important record of British traditions and customs.
Special Photography Moments
In 1893, Stone joined a scientific trip to northern Brazil. They went to see a total solar eclipse. He took amazing pictures during this trip.
One famous story tells how he photographed a political event in Brazil. He stopped rebels from firing at a governor's palace. He wanted to take pictures of them first!
In 1897, he started the National Photographic Record Association. He became its president. This group aimed to create a national collection of photographs.
His photography career reached a peak in 1911. He was chosen as the official photographer for the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary. This was a huge honor.
Later Life and Legacy
Sir Benjamin Stone was also president of the Birmingham Photographic Society. He was a Justice of the Peace, which means he helped with legal matters. He was also a member of important groups like the Society of Antiquaries.
He passed away at his home in Erdington on 2 July 1914. Just three days later, his wife Jane also died. They were buried together in Sutton Coldfield.
Sir Benjamin Stone was known as a calm and confident person. His huge collection of photographs is now kept at the Library of Birmingham. The National Portrait Gallery also has many of his portraits. His work continues to teach us about life in his time.
Images for kids
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Four soldiers of the King's African Rifles at the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902
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