William Eastman Palmer & Sons facts for kids

Stereoview of the Valley of Rocks in Devon, by W.E. Palmer 1860s

William Eastman Palmer & Sons was a family business of photographers. It started in Devon, England, in the 1860s. William Eastman Palmer and his wife, Maria Louisa Eales, began the company. By 1881, their five sons, who were also photographers, started to work in different places. The last known photograph taken by this family was in 1935, near Swindon.

William Eastman Palmer: The Family's Start

William Eastman Palmer was born in Devon around 1828. His father, Henry Palmer, was a shoemaker. William started his adult life as a musician in the Royal Navy band.

In 1860, William married Maria Louisa Eales. She was called a "photographic artist." This might mean she helped improve photos or even took them herself. She might have been the one who brought photography into the family.

William Eastman Palmer became a photographer in the mid-1860s. By 1871, he and Maria were living in Plymouth. They had twelve children, including seven sons. At least five of their sons learned to be photographers. William Eastman Palmer passed away in 1896.

Palmer's Early Photos

The oldest known photos by William Eastman Palmer are called stereoviews. These photos make it look like you are seeing a 3D image. They were taken in the 1860s or 1870s. Some of these pictures show beautiful places in Devon, like the Valley of Rocks in Lynton and Ilfracombe. These old photos have a special brownish color called sepia.

John Eastman Palmer the Elder: A Talented Brother

Photo by J.E. Palmer, 1870s

John Eastman Palmer was William Eastman Palmer's brother. He was born in Devon around 1830. He signed his photos "John E. Palmer" or "J.E. Palmer."

John E. Palmer took small portrait photos called carte de visites. He worked from his studio in Stonehouse, Plymouth. He won a first-class prize medal from the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society in 1865 for his photography. He also received a special permission, called a Royal letters patent, in 1872.

One of his famous photos is of a bearded man. John E. Palmer was very skilled at using light to make his subjects look thoughtful or spiritual. This artistic talent likely helped him win his awards. It's possible that some of William Eastman Palmer's sons learned photography from their uncle, John.

The Photographer Sons: Following in Their Father's Footsteps

Many of William and Maria's sons became photographers, continuing the family business.

William George Palmer

William George was the oldest son to become a photographer.

John Eastman Palmer the Younger

He also signed his photos "J.E. Palmer," just like his uncle.

Frederick Christian Palmer (1866–1941)

Fred C. Palmer's last known photo, around 1935

Frederick Christian Palmer was the third son. He was known as Fred C. Palmer. He started learning photography when he was 15 years old in 1881.

Fred C. Palmer had photography studios in Herne Bay from 1903 to 1922. Later, he moved his business to Swindon, where he worked from 1922 to 1936 or 1937. There are more than 70 known photos and postcards by Fred C. Palmer. His earliest known photos are from 1903. His last known photo is a postcard of Longcot, Oxfordshire, from 1935.

Ernest Charles Palmer

He signed his photographs "E.C. Palmer."

Henry Reginald Palmer

He signed his photographs "H.R. Palmer."