Robert Adamson was born in St. Andrews, the son of a farmer. With the encouragement of scientist David Brewster (1781 - 1868) and his brother John Adamson (1809-70), he reproduced the Englishman Fox-Talbot's Calotype photographic process. He moved to Edinburgh in 1843, setting up a studio on Calton Hill, and was introduced to David Hill (1802-70) with whom he formed a noted photographic partnership. The pair began by recording the participants in the Disruption of the Church of Scotland (1843).

Return To Famous Scots