An early photographic process developed in 1837 that created highly detailed images on polished silver-coated copper plates, popular for portraits in the 19th century.
Named after Louis Daguerre (French 'dague' for dagger, but more directly honoring the inventor's surname) combined with Greek 'typos' (impression or type). The invention was unveiled to the French Academy of Sciences in 1839.
Before daguerreotypes, the only way to capture a likeness was to paint or draw it—these photographs revolutionized human identity itself by making it possible for ordinary people to have permanent, realistic images of themselves and loved ones.
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