1870
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Edward Anthony was born on June 30, 1819 in New York, United States. He was a brother of Henry T. Anthony. Jacob Anthony, his father, was for many years one of the principal tellers in The United States Branch Bank and cashier of the old Bank of the State of New York. The family derives their descent from Allard Anthony, an immigrant from Holland to New Amsterdam about 1628, who was one of the first five councilmen of the new colony.
Edward Anthony graduated from Columbia College in 1838, with an excellent record.
Beginning life as a civil engineer, he obtained employment in building the original Croton Aqueduct, through which New York long drew its supply of pure drinking water from country streams and ponds. Before its completion, he was called to accompany Prof. James Renwick in the survey of the northeastern boundary of Maine, at the time of the dispute with Great Britain.
During the year 1847-1848 he established a daguerreotype- supply business under his own name. In 1852 his brother joined the company, which was then renamed to include both their names. The firm eventually merged with Scovill & Adams (1901) which, in 1907, became known as Ansco. In 1881 the company introduced dry plate outfits. With his brother Henry, Edward published The Anthony Photographic Bulletin (1870).
Anthony died of heart failure on December 14, 1888, a week after a sudden attack.
Anthony's was the world's first photographic supply house. With his brother, he pioneered the wet-plate process in the United States. In 1853 he established and financed the world's first photography contest; that same year, his portrait was used as the first photographic magazine illustration in the United States. He introduced celluloid cut film in 1888. In 1876 his firm received an award for "lanterns and graphascopes" at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.
Anthony was married in 1848, to Margaretta R., daughter of James Montgomery. They had a son, Richard A. Anthony (born May 24, 1861), and two daughters: Jane Kipp and Eleanor Montgomery. After receiving his BA and MA degrees from the Rutgers College and Columbia College, Richard joined the E. & H.T. Anthony & Company.
