Edward (Eadweard) Muybridge - Kingston upon Thames

Edward (Eadweard) Muybridge born 9 April 1830 was an English photographer important for his pioneering work in photographic studies of motion and in motion-picture projection.

He emigrated to America in 1825 and used many names including 'Muggridge', 'Muggereidge' and Muygridge.

He went to San Francisco started a career as a publisher's agent, then onto being a bookseller. In 1860 he left his brother 'to mind the store' whilst he returned to England to purchase more Antiquarian books, however he had a horrendous accident in a stage coach and for nearly two years suffered from complications including blurred vision. While recuperating in England he took up a hobby that would change his life 'photography.

In 1887, photos were published as a massive portfolio, with 781 plates comprising 20,000 of the photographs, in a groundbreaking collection titled Animal Locomotion: an Electro-Photographic Investigation of Connective Phases of Animal Movements.

He contributed substantially to developments in the science of biomechanics and the mechanics of athletics.

He died 8 May 1904 aged 84 at his home in Kingston upon Thames.