BENJAMIN SILLIMAN (1816-1885). Famous American scientist who worked at Yale, Silliman taught geology, chemistry and mineralogy. His work included improving mines and chemical manufacturing, editing the American Journal of Science and establishing the National Academy of Sciences.

JOAQUIM BISHOP, Early American Camera Maker, chemist, instrument maker and machinist.  It is known that Bishop made daguerreian cameras for Dr. P.B. Goddard and Robert Cornelius. He crafted the earliest cameras in Philadelphia, and constructed the camera for Goddard between October and November, 1839, following the drawings of Daguerre's apparatus. The specific camera, which traveled through the family of J. Sartain, is in the Franklin Institute. He later founded J. Bishop & Co. Platinum Works.

Signed Check issued to “Benj. Silliman Esq.” July 13, 1840 for $100.00 drawn on the New Haven Bank, endorsed on verso.  Vignette of beehive.  Toning to left edge and with cancellation punches.  He has made the amount payable to a Joaquim Bishop, who also signed this rare check, “J. Bishop.”

Some journals suggest Joaquim Bishop helped to make the first daguerreotype camera manufactured in the United States, but the actual day the very first camera is noted as being the first seems to be in dispute during those precious few months after Daguerre made his announcement to the world.

Click here http://www.fi.edu/pieces/myers/ for a picture of the Bishop Daguerreotype Camera and Developing Apparatus, 1839, given to The Franklin Institute by Dr. Paul Beck Goddard. Goddard was an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania where Joaquim Bishop was an instrument maker in the chemistry department. Shown is one of three early American cameras made by Bishop in Philadelphia in the Fall of 1839, a few months after Louis Daguerre announced his invention before the Academy of Science in Paris.