Cornelius Jabez Hughes
Cornelius Jabez Hughes (20 July 1819 – 11 August 1884) was a British photographer, daguerreotypist, and writer. He was one of the best known portrait photographers in Victorian England, and today his photographs are included in a number of notable museum collections including the National Portrait Gallery in London and The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
Also recorded as Cornelius Hughes · C. Jabez Hughes · Jabez Cornelius Hughes · Jabez Hughes
Cornelius Jabez Hughes
Cornelius Jabez Hughes · Public domain
- Born
- 1819 · Westminster.
- Died
- 1884 · Ryde.
- Nationality
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland · United Kingdom
- Occupation
- photographer · tailor
- Known for
- Arthur and Duke of Connaught (1850-1942)
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Cornelius Jabez Hughes (20 July 1819 – 11 August 1884) was a British photographer, daguerreotypist, and writer. He was one of the best known portrait photographers in Victorian England, and today his photographs are included in a number of notable museum collections including the National Portrait Gallery in London and The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q47491925 · wikipedia · Cornelius Jabez Hughes
In this article
Background
Background
The recorded working language is English. Places of work recorded in the authority are Glasgow and London. Works named in the authority record are Arthur, Duke of Connaught (1850-1942). Work by Cornelius Jabez Hughes is recorded in the collections of Victoria and Albert Museum, Photography Collection, National Library of Wales and J. Paul Getty Museum.
Cornelius Jabez Hughes was born on 20 July 1819 in St. James Parish, Westminster, England to David and Elizabeth Hughes. His father was a tailor and he also worked as a tailor. He married Esther Wright in June 1843, and the couple had a son Alfred on 1 October 1843. Hughes spent most of his life living in London but also lived in Glasgow and towards the end of his life moved to the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight. He died on 11 August 1884 in Ryde and is buried at Abney Park Cemetery in London.
Writing and lecturing
Writing and lecturing
Hughes wrote a number of guides and articles on photography, including a well-received practical photography guide. Hughes also gave a number of lectures on a number of scientific subjects.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1819
Cornelius Jabez Hughes born at Westminster.
1884
Cornelius Jabez Hughes died at Ryde.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Westminster.
Birth place
Ryde.
Death place
Photography
After spending his early life as a tailor, Cornelius Jabez Hughes became interested in the new art of photography. Cornelius Jabez Hughes first worked as an assistant to English photographer John Jabez Edwin Mayall in London. After 1847 he moved to Glasgow, Scotland, where he opened his own successful studio and became a member of the Glasgow Photographic Society. In 1855 he returned to London and bought Mayall's former studio. Hughes later moved to the Isle of Wight and built the Regina House Studio in Ryde. His studio's location on the Isle of Wight was not far from Queen Victoria's Osborne House and the British royalty became frequent patrons. Hughes is most recognized for his portrait photography and having captured a number of photos of royalty and famous people during his career, which included Queen Victoria, Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg, Prince Alemayehu, Princess Alice, Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, and Queen Victoria's favorite Scottish attendant John Brown. He also photographed the exterior and interior of Osborne House. His photos are held by a number of prominent collections including by the National Portrait Gallery in London, The J. Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and the Royal Collection.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Cornelius Jabez Hughes”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q47491925: Cornelius Jabez Hughes
General reference · Wikidata
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
The authorities additionally record the headings Cornelius Hughes, C. Jabez Hughes, Jabez Cornelius Hughes and Jabez Hughes. His recorded language was English. One child is recorded: Alfred Wright Hughes. Recorded as photographer and tailor.
Identity and origins
Recognition and collections
Work by Cornelius Jabez Hughes is
Victoria and Albert Museum, Photography Collection, National Library of Wales and J. Paul Getty Museum
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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