Pirie MacDonald

Ian Pirie MacDonald HonFRPS (January 27, 1867 – April 22, 1942) was an American portrait photographer, New York City civic leader, and peace advocate. He photographed over 70,000 men in the span of his career, including international heads of state, religious leaders, and artists.

Photography career Born in Chicago, MacDonald moved to Hudson, New York in 1883, where he worked as a photographer's apprentice prior to opening his own studio in Albany. Upon gaining a reputation in portraiture, MacDonald made the decision to only photograph men, a decision that even applied to family photos, and from that point on dubbed himself "Pirie MacDonald – Photographer of Men". When asked about his most memorable portrait sittings, he listed Theodore Roosevelt as his most difficult subject.

Personal life MacDonald married Emilie Van Dusen in 1890. and maintained a camp for the scouts on his White Oak Shade estate in Norwalk, Connecticut.

MacDonald had a cerebral hemorrhage at White Oak Shade on April 18, 1942, and died at a New York hospital four days later. In accordance with his wishes, all photographic negatives of his works were destroyed. Photographer's Association of America - Lifetime Member In 1980 Pirie MacDonald was posthumously inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum.