Portrait of a two-star general, likely Ulysses S. Grant

Mathew Brady (1823– January 15th, 1896) was a pioneering American photographer best known for his groundbreaking documentation of the Civil War. Often called the father of photojournalism, Brady profoundly influenced how the war was perceived by the public through his striking battlefield images, portraits of soldiers, depictions of camp life, and powerful leaders. He and his team, which included photographers like Alexander Gardner and Timothy H. O’Sullivan, captured thousands of photographs—some of the first to reveal the harsh realities of war. His 1862 exhibit, The Dead of Antietam, stunned the nation by displaying graphic images of fallen soldiers, marking the first time the American public was exposed to the true brutality of battle through photography.

Brady was born in Warren County, New York, to Irish immigrants and became involved in photography after being introduced to daguerreotypy by Samuel F.B. Morse. He began his career in New York City, opening a successful portrait studio where he photographed notable figures such as Edgar Allan Poe and Abraham Lincoln. Brady later expanded to Washington, D.C., where he captured images of political leaders and published The Gallery of Illustrious Americans. Despite his Civil War efforts being financially disastrous, he eventually sold his collection to the U.S. government. After years of declining health and financial hardship, Brady died in 1896 and was buried in Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C., leaving behind a legacy that transformed photography and historical record keeping.