The name Alexander Gardner stands as a towering figure in the annals of American photography, particularly for his indelible contributions to documenting the harrowing realities of the Civil War and the vast expanse of the American West. A Scottish immigrant, Alexander Gardner moved to the United States in 1856, where his exceptional photographic talents quickly blossomed, leading him to capture some of the most iconic and historically significant images of the 19th century, including those of President Abraham Lincoln and the dramatic aftermath of pivotal battles.
Born on October 17, 1821, in Paisley, Scotland, to James and Jane Glen Gardner, Alexander grew up in challenging circumstances, later relocating with his family to Glasgow. His journey into photography was preceded by a seven-year apprenticeship as a jeweler, beginning at the age of 14, which provided him with a keen eye for detail and precision. Eager for knowledge, he pursued evening classes at the Glasgow Athenaeum, where he delved into astronomy, optics, physics, and chemistry – subjects that would prove invaluable to his future photographic endeavors. At 21, Gardner embarked on a journalistic career as a reporter for the Glasgow Sentinel.
Early Life, Socialist Ideals, and Photographic Roots
Influenced by the Welsh socialist Robert Owen and his cooperative movement, Gardner, raised in the Church of Scotland, harbored ideals of community living. In 1850, he and his brother James ventured to the United States with the ambition of establishing a cooperative settlement near Monona, Iowa. Though Gardner himself never resided in this nascent community, choosing instead to return to Scotland to secure further funding, his commitment to the project, dubbed Clydesdale, persisted. During this period, his photographic skills flourished in Paisley, and his mastery of the wet-plate collodion process earned him widespread recognition. He also published pamphlets, actively promoting emigration to his semi-socialist ‘Utopia’ in the Iowa wilderness, successfully persuading many friends and relatives to join.
In 1851, Gardner became the owner and editor of the Glasgow Sentinel, rapidly elevating it to the second-largest newspaper in Glasgow. A pivotal moment in his career occurred that same year during a visit to The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London, where he was captivated by the photographic works of American Mathew Brady. This encounter ignited a profound interest in photography, prompting him to review photographic exhibitions for his newspaper and begin his own independent experiments. Around this time, he married Margaret Sinclair, and they would eventually have two children.
Immigration to America and Partnership with Mathew Brady
The spring of 1856 marked Alexander Gardner’s permanent immigration to the United States, accompanied by his mother, wife, and two children. Upon reaching the Clydesdale colony in Iowa, he was met with tragedy; several members, including his sister Jessie Sinclair, were suffering from tuberculosis, a harsh reality that led him to return with his family to the East Coast, settling in New York.
That same year, Gardner contacted Mathew Brady and quickly secured a position as his assistant and portrait photographer. Gardner rapidly distinguished himself by specializing in
