EDWARD ELSWORTH. 193 
esting, only in their relation to the agreement and 
partnership which in 1829, was consummated between 
Niepce and Daguerre. Daguerre, the distinguished 
Frenchman, whose name is connected with the first suc- 
cessful effort to permanently fix the photographic 
image, was born near Paris in 1787. In his early man- 
hood he became a scene painter, and frequently employ- 
ing the ordinary camera obscura, he became inspired by 
the beauty and perfection of the pictures produced 
thereby, to attempt the discovery of some method by 
which they could be permanently retained. He was 
without any scientific training, and appears to have 
passed at least five years without accomplishing any- 
thing in the desired direction, except the production of 
a camera fitted with some lenses which he purchased 
from a well-known optician. 
Hearing of Niepce in 1826, he attempted a correspon- 
dence with him, which met with but curt response; but 
in 1829, the two met in Paris and a friendly intercourse 
soon ripened into a copartnership, which continued 
until Niepce’s death, and thereafter with the latter’s son 
Isador. 
For ten years Daguerre struggled, his ordinary busi- 
ness neglected, subjected to suspicion of insanity, 
striving ever, without much method perhaps, but with a 
vast amount of patience and perseverance, to discover 
some way to capture the fleeting images formed within 
his camera. 
In 1838 he proclaimed success, and showing the re- 
sults of his process to the eminent scientist, Arago, 
Arago was so celighted that he endorsed the discovery 
in the highest degree, and it was upon his recommenda- 
tion that the French Government conferred upon Da- 
guerre a life pension of six thousand francs, and upon 
Isador Niepce, a like pension of four thousand frances. 
73 
