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Richard Beard

(1801-1885), Photographer

Artist associated with 8 portraits
Richard Beard was born in Devon, the son of a grocer in Newton Abbot. He moved to London in 1833 and profitably established himself in the coal trade until 1843. Beard set up in photography as a business speculation. He purchased a licence to use the daguerreotype process in 1841, and opened the world's first photographic studio. It was set up in a glasshouse on the roof of London's Royal Polytechnic Institution to provide all-round lighting, which was necessary to the daguerreotype process. There were huge profits from his studios in London and Liverpool and from the sale of licences to take daguerreotypes, but Beard was ruined by his many legal actions against rivals, and went bankrupt in 1850.

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Jabez Hogg, possibly by Jabez Hogg, or by Richard Beard - NPG P2092

Jabez Hogg

possibly by Jabez Hogg, or by Richard Beard
quarter-plate daguerreotype, mid 1840s
On display in Room 20 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG P2092

An unknown man, by Jabez Hogg, or by John Frederick Goddard, for Richard Beard - NPG x199100

An unknown man

by Jabez Hogg, or by John Frederick Goddard, for Richard Beard
ninth plate daguerreotype, March-July 1841
On display in Room 20 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x199100

Unknown woman, by Jabez Hogg, or by John Frederick Goddard, for Richard Beard - NPG x199101

Unknown woman

by Jabez Hogg, or by John Frederick Goddard, for Richard Beard
ninth plate daguerreotype, March-July 1841
On display in Room 20 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x199101

Douglas William Jerrold, by John Sartain, after a photograph by Richard Beard - NPG D3171

Douglas William Jerrold

by John Sartain, after a photograph by Richard Beard
mezzotint, 1840s-1850s
NPG D3171

Douglas William Jerrold, by John Sartain, after a photograph by Richard Beard - NPG D3172

Douglas William Jerrold

by John Sartain, after a photograph by Richard Beard
mezzotint, 1840s-1850s
NPG D3172

Henry Mackenzie, after Richard Beard - NPG D5169

Henry Mackenzie

after Richard Beard
woodcut, circa 1848-1855
NPG D5169

Henry Mayhew, after a daguerreotype by Richard Beard - NPG D5237

Henry Mayhew

after a daguerreotype by Richard Beard
wood engraving, published 1851
NPG D5237

Henry Mayhew, after a daguerreotype by Richard Beard - NPG D5238

Henry Mayhew

after a daguerreotype by Richard Beard
wood engraving, published 1851
NPG D5238

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