There are a series of announcements and advertisements in the Washington, D. C. Newspapers that place Nahum S. Bennett in D. C. from 1850 to late 1852. He was first recorded in The Daily Union (Washington, D. C.) in an announcement on August 21, 1850.
We are indebted to Mr. N. S. Bennett, of this city, for a daguerreotype likeness of Mr. Millard Fillmore, the present President of the United States, and lithographed by Mr. A. Newman. It is an admirable likeness, and beautifully executed. The President’s face is calculated to grace the art of the daguerreotypist or the painter; but those features are too apt to undergo a premature revolution from the wrinkles of care, which power, if faithfully administered, stamps with its seal upon the brow.…
In an announcement that was published in the Daily American Telegraph (Washington, D. C.) on July 13, 1852. A Beautiful Daguerreotype. The most perfect and admirable daguerreotype likeness we have ever seen has just been made of General Winfield Scott, by Mr. Bennett, of this city. It is of very large size, and as clear and distinct as the reflection from a polished mirror.
We learn that the old General sat for this likeness with cheerfulness and patience, though under protest, declaring that so frequently has he of late been called upon to sit to artists of various kinds that he must henceforth refuse. If others have succeeded as well as Mr. Bennett, we do not, indeed, think further efforts are needed.
Also on the 13th the following advertisement appears Rocky Mountain Indians! Daguerreotype likenesses of the principal Chiefs of the Different Rocky Mountain tribes of Indians on exhibition at Bennett’s National Gallery, Penna. av., between 6th and 7th sts.
The last Daguerreotype, from life, of the departed patriot, Henry Clay, may be seen at Bennett’s National Gallery, Pa. av., between 6th and 7th sts.
In an article entitled The Pueblo Indians in the Daily American Telegraph (Washington, D. C.) on August 13, 1852 in part….Bennett, the skilful and popular daguerreotypist, took their portraits yesterday. They were highly gratified, and, when told that each of them should have a copy of his own likeness, their pleasure knew no bounds. The old man of the party (aged sixty-four) looked at his image for a while, and then said: “When I am dead, and gone to heaven, I shall still live in this.”…
In an advertisement in the Daily American Telegraph. (Washington, D. C.) on September 20, 1852 we learn that a portrait of General Scott is being painted by Stanley[1] which is possibly the best portrait of the General ever painted. It is from a most beautiful daguerreotype by Bennett, of this city.
The last advertisement in the Daily American Telegraph (Washington, D. C.) appeared on October 26 and ran until November 18, 1852. Crayon Daguerreotypes. This style of Photographic Pictures was patented by John A. Whipple, of Boston, about six years since[2], and introduced into this city by Bennett in 1850, as many who have had them know. Mr. B. continues to take them, in a superior manner, at his Gallery, Pennsylvania avenue, between 6 and 7th streets.
Published in an article about early Daguerreotypist in Washington, D. C. a letter from Samuel Rush Seibert dated October 19, 1896 is included. It is in reply to Samuel C. Busey’s inquiry about early Daguerreotypist in Washington. He states in part “Mr. N. S. Bennett had a Daguerreotype gallery a few doors west, on the same avenue, in a building which was on the east side and adjoining L. D. Gilman’s drug store. During the winter of 1851 and 1852 I negotiated with him for the purchase of the gallery for Marcus A. Root and John H. Clark, who immediately obtained possession and refitted the skylight and rooms, and there produced many fine specimens of the Daguerrean art.[3]”
Based on the last advertisement of Bennett’s (October 26, 1852) and the first ad for Root in the Washington papers (December 19, 1852) the sale of the gallery had to be in October-November 1852. Interesting John H. Clark[e] does not appear in any advertisements found in the D. C. newspapers. According to Laurie Baty’s unpublished Directory of Washington, D. C. Photographers Clark was a pupil of Root’s and was the operator of his D. C. gallery.
Bennett was on board the steamer Empire which left Troy, NY around 7 P. M. on Friday July 15, 1853 heading to New York City, when it was in a collision with the sloop General Livingston about 2 A. M on the 16th on the west shore of the Hudson River, opposite Clinton Point, about two and a half miles above New-Hamburg, and six below Poughkeepsie. A number of people were killed or injured in the accident. The extent of Bennett injuries are unknown it is reported in the Daguerreian Journal that he did lose a valuable collection of daguerreotypes including a whole plate of the last portrait taken of Henry Clay, sixteen specimens of members of the U. S. Senate, Likenesses of the Rocky Mountain Indian Tribes, and a portrait of Billy Bow Legs and John Howard Payne[4], who was an American actor, poet, playwright, and author.
No other advertisements, notices or articles have been found in any of the Washington newspapers that I have access to, until the three advertisements in the Evening Star discussed previously about Smith Bennett who was award a silver medal at the 1855 Metropolitan Mechanic’s Institute while he was in Alexandria, Virginia.
Reported in the Evening Star (Washington, D. C.) on February 10, 1857. That N. S. Bennett has sent an application to the Mechanics’ Fair to exhibit ambrotypes and daguerreotypes. Then on March 31 (in the same paper) a list was published of the premiums awarded at The Fair…Class 30….
Brady, N. Y.—photographs—Silver Medal. Whitehurst, Washington—ambrotypes—Silver Medal. Whitehurst, Washington—daguerreotypes—First award of merit. Langenheim, Philadelphia—stereoscopes—Silver Medal. Vannerson, Washington—photographs, ambrotypes and daguerreotypes—Bronze Medal. Whitehurst, Washington—photographs—Diploma. Cutting & Turner, Boston—ambrotypes—Diploma N. S. Bennett, Alexandria—daguerreotypes—Diploma.
Bennett is reported to have been active in 1860 in Alexandria at 69 King Street. At this time I have been unable to find directories for Alexandria to verify activity dates and address for Bennett from 1855-1860+.
[1] Probably John Mix Stanley.
[2] Crayon Daguerreotypes were patented by Whipple on January 23, 1849, Patent No. 6,056.
[3] In an article published in the Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D. C. Vol. 3, P. 81-95. Entitled Early History of Daguerreotypy in the City of Washington, by Samuel C. Busey.
[4] Article in the New York Times, July 18, 1853, P. 1.
Pioneer American Photographers, 1839 - 1860 