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Authorised form of nameTalbot; William Henry Fox (1800 - 1877)
Other forms of nameHenry Fox
Dates1800 - 1877
NationalityBritish
Place of birthMelbury House, Dorset, England
Date of birth11 February 1800
Place of deathLacock Abbey, Chippenham, Wiltshire
Date of death17 September 1877
Research fieldPhotochemistry
Mathematics
ActivityEducation:
Harrow School
Membership categoryFellow
Date of election17/03/1831
Royal Society activityMedals and prizes:
Royal Medal 1838; Rumford Medal 1842
Lectures:
Bakerian 1837
General contextPhotographs of William Fox Talbot purchased for £2.25 million in October 2014 by the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Staff are delighted with the acquisition and are planning to stage a major exhibition in 2017.

Announcing the news at the Photography Oxford Festival, which finished on Sunday, Bodley’s Librarian Richard Ovenden said: “We are so pleased to have reached our fundraising target and are at last able to secure the Fox Talbot archive. We are looking forward to making this fascinating and important resource available to students and the photographic community.”

The Oxford University library received a grant of £1.2m in 2012 towards securing the archive.

After the National Heritage Memorial Fund awarded the library £1.2m, further donations came in from the Art Fund, plus gifts from individuals and charitable trusts.
.
The final donation came from a legacy, allowing the Bodleian off Broad Street to reach its target of £2.25m.
SourcesSources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB
Authority:
Altname from election certificate
References:
Geoffrey Cantor, 'In Love With Light', review of Larry J Schaaf, Out of the Shadows. Herschel, Talbot and the Invention of Photography in NR 1993 vol 47 pp 147-149
Colin A Russell, 'Photographic Pioneer', review of Larry J Schaaf, Records of the Dawn of Photography, Talbot's Notebooks P & Q in NR 1998 vol 52 pp 196-197
John H Appleby, 'Woronzow Greig (1805-1865), FRS, and his Scientific Interests' in NR 1999 vol 53 pp 95-106
Virtual International Authority Filehttp://viaf.org/viaf/54325833
Royal Society codeNA5837
Archives associated with this Fellow
Reference numberTitleDate
MC/3/178Letter from William Henry Fox Talbot, to John David Roberton, [Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society]29 June 1841
MC/3/5Letter from William Henry Fox Talbot, 44 Queen Ann Street, to Dr. Peter Mark Roget, [Secretary of the Royal Society]5 February 1839
NLB/20/400Copy letter from Robert William Frederick Harrison, to the Editors of 'The Photogram', 6 Farringdon Aveneue, E.C.6 April 1900
MC/17/315Letter from [William Henry] Fox Talbot, 44 Queen Ann Street, to The Royal Societyc.1839
EC/1831/10Talbot, William Henry Fox: certificate of election to the Royal Society
RR/3/51Referee's report by John Thomas Graves, on a paper 'A memoir on curves of the third order' by Arthur Cayley31 January 1957
IM/004488Talbot, William Henry Foxnd
MC/2Volume 2 of miscellaneous correspondence regarding business matters, sent to the Royal Society1832-1838
MC/2/153Letter from [William] Henry Fox Talbot, 31 Sackville Street, to the Royal Societyc. December 1834
MC/3Volume 3 of miscellaneous correspondence regarding business matters, sent to the Royal Society1839-1843
MC/3/15Letter from Joseph Bancroft Reade, Peckham, to the Royal Society28 February 1839
MC/3/77Letter from [Carl Friedrich Philipp] von Martius, Munich, to John Frederic Daniell, Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society24 March 1840
MC/3/179Draft letter from the Royal Society to William Henry Fox Talbot30 June 1841
MC/3/181Letter from William Henry Fox Talbot, to John David Roberton, [Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society]30 June 1841
MC/3/180Letter from William Henry Fox Talbot, to Dr. [Peter Mark] Roget, Secretary of the Royal Society, 39 Bernard Street, Russell Square30 June 1841
MC/3/6Letter from William Henry Fox Talbot, 44 Queen Ann Street, to Dr. Peter Mark Roget, [Secretary of the Royal Society]6 February 1839
AP/23/21Unpublished paper, 'Notice respecting a new kind of sensitive paper' by Henry Fox Talbot19 March 1839
AP/25/13Unpublished paper, 'An account of some recent improvements in photography' by Henry Fox Talbot1841
AP/45/5Unpublished paper, 'On spectrum analysis: with a description of a large spectroscope having nine prisms and achromatic telescopes of two feet focal length' by J P [John Peter] Gassiot1863
AP/18/16Unpublished paper, 'Experiments on light' by H F [William Henry Fox] TalbotJune 1834
AP/18/15Unpublished paper, 'New property of the arcs of the equilateral hyperbola' by H F [William Henry Fox] TalbotJanuary 1834
MS/257/5/3Letter from William Henry Fox Talbot, 31 Sackville Street to [James Clark Ross]22 August 1839
AP/45/5/1Unpublished manuscript, 'On spectrum analysis: with a description of a large spectroscope having nine prisms and achromatic telescopes of two feet focal length' by J P [John Peter] Gassiot1863
AP/23/20Unpublished letter, 'An account of the process employed in photogenic drawing' from Henry Fox Talbot to Samuel Hunter Christie20 February 1839
PP/10/58Paper, 'On certain definite integrals. No 15' by W H L [William Henry Leighton] Russell1887
AP/23/19Unpublished paper, 'Some account of photogenic drawing or, the process by which natural objects may be made to delineate themselves, without the aid of the artist's pencil' by Henry Fox Talbot1839
RR/1/32Referee's report by William Henry Fox Talbot, on a paper 'On the connection between the phenomena of the absorption of light, and the colours of thin plates' by David Brewster22 June 1837
MC/17Volume 17 of miscellaneous correspondence regarding business matters, sent to the Royal Society1897-1899
HSF/1/2/86Letter from H F [William Henry Fox] Talbot, 11 Great Stuart St., Edinburgh, to J F W [Sir John Frederick William] Herschel2 May 1863
HS/17/266Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey8 August 1827
HS/17/260Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Ancona24 March 1826
HS/17/307Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Sackville St.19 May 1841
HS/17/319Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Athenaeum26 October 1847
HS/17/324Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.1826-1
HS/17/314Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey24 March 1843
HS/17/276Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey8 July 1838
HS/17/290Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at London28 March 1839
HS/17/292Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey10 April 1839
HS/17/310aDraft letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot1841-7-25 or later
HS/17/302Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at London15 June 1840
HS/17/308Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Sackville St.12 June 1841
HS/17/323Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Worthing28 January 1826?
HS/17/261Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Richmond Hill1826-7
HS/17/274Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey23 May 1838
HS/17/271Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 29 Albemarle St.28 May 1833
HS/17/317Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey8 September 1844
HS/17/275Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey11 June 1838
HS/17/265Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.18 July 1827
HS/17/318Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.16 September 1844
HS/17/281Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 44 Queen Anne St.8 February 1839
HS/17/262Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.24 August 1826
HS/17/288Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 44 Queen Anne St.15 March 1839
HS/17/289Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at London21 March 1839
HS/17/311Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey18 April 1842
HS/17/264Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.3 July 1827
HS/17/298Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey15 November 1839
HS/17/296Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.8 September 1839
HS/17/299Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey7 December 1839
HS/17/282Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 44 Queen Anne St.11 February 1839
HS/17/300Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey28 February 1840
HS/17/312Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Munich2 June 1842
HS/26/51Letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at [London]19 May 1854
HS/26/55Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Athenaeum26 May 1854
HS/17/263Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at A 3, Albany22 May 1827
HS/17/306Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey6 April 1841
HS/17/320Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey4 February 1848
HS/17/280Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 44 Queen Anne St.2 February 1839
HS/17/305Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey18 March 1841
HS/17/313Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey22 March 1843
HS/17/293Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey27 April 1839
HS/17/291Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at London29 March 1839
HS/17/295Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey19 July 1839
HS/17/273Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey27 August 1837
HS/17/272Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 29 Albemarle St.31 May 1833
HS/17/278Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at London28 January 1839
HS/17/277Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 44 Queen Anne St.25 January 1839
HS/23/106Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at 32 Harley St.27 July 1851
HS/17/322Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey26 August 1851
HS/22/151Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot31 March 1843
HS/22/82Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood25 March 1841
HS/25/6/2Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Slough3 March 1840
HS/23/132Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at 32 Harley St.14 May 1853
HS/17/285Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 44 Queen Anne St.20 February 1839
HS/17/304aCopy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood22 March 1841
HS/17/303Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey1 September 1840
HS/17/283Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 44 Queen Anne St.14 February 1839
HS/17/301Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey30 April 1840
HS/19/34Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to Commander of Steam-Packet Talbot, dated at Slough4? September 1822
HS/25/1/15Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Slough28 December 1830
HS/26/49Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Athenaeum15 May 1854
HS/26/53Letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at [London]21 May 1854
HS/25/5/13Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Slough24 June 1839
HS/23/103Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at 32 Harley St.6 May 1851
HS/25/5/14Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot7 July 1839
HS/22/149Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood25 March 1843
HS/22/91Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood5 July 1841
HS/22/1Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Slough30 January 1839
HS/26/52Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Athenaeum20 May 1854
HS/26/54Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Athenaeum23 May 1854
HS/26/50Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Athenaeum18 May 1854
HS/22/11Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Slough22 April 1839
HS/26/48Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Greta Bank, Keswick13 November 1853
HS/17/257Incomplete letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.4 January 1826
HS/17/258Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.12 January 1826
HS/17/259Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Worthing27 February 1826
HS/17/267Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey.29 October 1827
HS/17/268Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.4 March 1833
HS/17/269Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.9 March 1833
HS/17/270Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at London27 March 1833
HS/17/279Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 44 Queen Anne St.29 January 1839
HS/17/279aDraft letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Slough30 January 1839
HS/17/284Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 44 Queen Anne St.19 February 1839
HS/17/286Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 44 Queen Anne St.27 February 1839
HS/17/287Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 44 Queen Anne St.1 March 1839
HS/17/293aDraft letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Slough27 April 1839
HS/17/294Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.2 July 1839
HS/17/297Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey12 September 1839
HS/17/302aDraft letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood30 August 1840
HS/17/304Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey17 March 1841
HS/17/305aCopy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood25 March 1841
HS/17/309Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Sackville St.1 July 1841
HS/17/309aDraft letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood5 July 1841
HS/17/310Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at 31 Sackville St.25 July 1841
HS/17/315Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey29 March 1843
HS/17/316Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at Lacock Abbey5 April 1843
HS/17/321Letter, from William Henry Fox Talbot to Sir John Herschel, dated at [Lacock Abbey]1851-5-6 or earlier
HS/22/12Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Slough27 April 1839
HS/22/67Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood30 August 1840
HS/22/81Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood22 March 1841
HS/22/83Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood6 April 1841
HS/23/14Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood29 February 1848
HS/25/5/12Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Slough12 February 1839
MS/957/79Letter from H F [William Henry Fox] Talbot, Worthing, to 'dear Sir' [Henry Kater]8 February 1826
HS/17/281aDraft letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Slough9 February 1839
HS/17/306aCopy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Henry Fox Talbot, dated at Collingwood6 April 1841
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