when there’s an old photograph, AND the guy in it is really old, it’s like, wow, that guy is super old
Conrad Heyer, photographed in 1852 at the age of 103. He was born in 1749 and is thought to be the earliest-born person ever photographed.
i am experiencing Emotions about locking photographic gaze with a man who was born in the middle of the 18th century
this dude was an adult already during the american revolutionary war (ish)? he was getting real time news of the unfolding of France’s emperors? what
whaaat
he is looking at me
This man was born before the invention of:
The sextant (1757), which allowed precise calculation of your position in the ocean
Lightning rods (1752)
The first English dictionary (1755)
Carbonated water (1767)
Sewing machines (1790)
The cotton gin (1794)
Flush toilets (1775)
And he’s looking at you
When he was born, the US Looked about like this
And then it was this at about the time of the photo
He saw colonial rule, revolution, war of 1812, the subsequent rise in nationalism, and manifest destiny (not to mention all the subsequent wars)
And he’s looking at you
He was born in Maine when it was still part of Massachusetts. He was 81 when it became its own state.
