Historical Photographer: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

Timothy O'Sullivan is an American photographer from New York City born in 1840.  He is best known for his work on the American Civil war, the Western U.S., and other aspects of war.  After serving a short time on the army, he was honorably discharged and continued following Majors and Generals and capturing the moments in combat.
O'Sullivan began his early career as a teenager working as an apprentice.  After being commissioned in the army at 21, he was released, and went on to publish a series of 44 photographs of the first Civil War photographs collection.  In July of 1843 he created his most famous picture, The Harvest of Death, which depicted dead soldiers on the battlegrounds.  He continued taking photographs of American war, traveling the country following famous names such as Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. Fun fact: this all happened before he turned 30.  In 1870, he went to Panama to survey the canal, but returned shortly to the U.S.  He spent his later years in Washington D.C. as the official photographer for the U.S. treasury and the U.S. Geological Survey.  He died in Staten Island at the age of 72.