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George Eastman
1854–1932 · Inventor and Entrepreneur
An American inventor and entrepreneur whose roll-film systems, Kodak camera and processing service helped make photography much easier for ordinary people.
“You press the button, we do the rest.”
Why is this scientist famous?
Developing practical roll-film systems and the Kodak camera, helping make photography accessible to ordinary people and contributing to the rise of motion pictures.
George's story
A Boy Who Had to Grow Up Fast
George Eastman was born in 1854 in Waterville, a small village in upstate New York. His father ran a business college in nearby Rochester, but when George was eight, his father became seriously ill. The family moved to Rochester, and at fourteen, George had to leave school to work and support his mother and two older sisters. He took a job as an office boy for an insurance company at three dollars a week, then moved to a bank as a junior clerk. He was hardworking and ambitious, teaching himself accounting and saving every spare cent. Photography entered his life almost by accident. A colleague at the bank planned a trip to the Caribbean and suggested young George buy a camera to record the journey. The camera was enormous, the equipment was expensive, and the process was so messy and complicated that Eastman was appalled. There had to be a better way.
Experiments in Photography
Eastman became interested in the new gelatin dry-plate process being developed in Britain. After years of experiments with photographic emulsions, he patented a machine and method for coating gelatin dry plates in 1880. Dry plates already existed, but Eastman's manufacturing system helped make them consistent and commercially available. In 1881 he formed the Eastman Dry Plate Company with financial backing from Henry Strong.
Roll Film and the Kodak Camera
Eastman next worked to replace heavy glass plates with flexible photographic material. In 1885 he and William H. Walker patented the Eastman-Walker roll holder. In 1888 Eastman launched the Kodak camera, preloaded for 100 exposures. Customers returned the camera to Rochester, where the film was developed, prints were made and the camera was reloaded. Eastman's company introduced transparent flexible film in 1889. Hannibal Goodwin had independently applied for a patent for transparent nitrocellulose photographic film in 1887, so Eastman should not be described as its sole inventor. Kodak transparent film became important in early motion-picture experiments, including work by Thomas Edison's assistant W. K. L. Dickson.
Philanthropy and Later Life
Eastman built Eastman Kodak into a major company and gave more than $100 million during his lifetime to educational, medical, dental, charitable and arts organisations. In his later years he developed a progressive and irreversible spinal condition that caused increasing pain and disability. He died by suicide in Rochester on 14 March 1932, aged 77.
What did they discover?
Roll Film
With William H. Walker, developed and patented an important roll-film holder in 1885. Eastman's company then developed and commercialised flexible roll films that helped replace heavy glass plates.
Kodak Camera
Launched in 1888, the Kodak camera came loaded for 100 exposures and could be returned for processing and reloading, helping make photography much easier for ordinary people.
Dry Plate Photography
Patented a machine and method for coating gelatin dry plates and helped mass-produce consistent dry plates commercially; he did not invent dry-plate photography itself.
Transparent Nitrocellulose Film
Eastman's company introduced transparent flexible film in 1889. Hannibal Goodwin had independently filed an earlier patent application for transparent nitrocellulose photographic film in 1887.
Amazing facts
He left school at fourteen to help support his widowed mother and two sisters.
He gave away more than 100 million dollars during his lifetime, funding universities, dental clinics, and music schools, mostly anonymously.
The name Kodak was invented by Eastman himself because he liked the letter K and wanted a word that was short, distinctive, and could not be mispronounced.
Eastman introduced profit-sharing and retirement benefits for his employees decades before most companies offered them.
Thomas Edison's assistant W. K. L. Dickson used Kodak transparent film in early motion-picture experiments.
The original Kodak camera sold for $25 in 1888 and came loaded with film for 100 photographs.
Timeline
Born in Waterville, New York
Left school at fourteen to work as an office boy at an insurance company
Bought his first camera and began experimenting with photography
Patented a dry-plate coating machine and began selling dry plates
Founded the Eastman Dry Plate Company in Rochester, New York
With William H. Walker, developed the Eastman-Walker roll holder for photographic film
Launched the first Kodak camera with the slogan you press the button, we do the rest
Eastman's company introduced transparent flexible photographic film
Founded the Eastman Kodak Company
Died in Rochester, New York, age 77
Awards & honours
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