Francis George Claudet

Francis George Claudet (1837-1906) was an assayer for the Royal Mint in British Columbia, Canada, photographer and the youngest son of Antoine François Jean Claudet, the French photographer-inventor who produced daguerreotypes.

Career

Francis Claudet was born on 15 February 1837 in Islington, London, the youngest of eight children of Antoine and Julia Claudet. In 1859 the Royal Mint appointed him as the Assayer for the Colony of British Columbia, Canada. Claudet lived in New Westminster over the next thirteen years, working in various civil service roles before returning to England

Photography Claudet inherited an interest in photography from his father and took images of New Westminster and its residents, as well as subjects he encountered on official duties. He knew other professional photographers, including Frederick Dally in Victoria, David Withrow in New Westminster & Moodyville, and possibly Richard and Hannah Maynard, whom he is likely to have met in 1862 on board a steamer from San Francisco.

Death Claudet died at his home, 181 Willesden Lane, Kilburn, London on 13 March 1906 and is buried in a family grave on the west side of Highgate Cemetery.