Timeline

1830

Born Edward James Muggeridge at Kingston upon Thames, England

1855

Arrived in San Francisco, starting his career as a publisher's agent and bookseller

1867

Began to build his reputation with photos of Yosemite and San Francisco

1868

Commissioned to photograph one of the U.S. Army's expeditions

1874

Still living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Muybridge discovered that his wife had a lover, a Major Harry Larkyns. On October 17, he sought out Larkyns; said, "Good evening, Major, my name is Muybridge and here is the answer to the letter you sent my wife"; he then followed and killed the Major with a gunshot. He was aquitted after a plea of instanity resulting from an injury due to a stage coach accident.

1877

Returned to the United States after photographing Central America.

Started to experiment with photographing motion in response to former Governor of California Leland Stanford, a businessman and race-horse owner's question of whether all four of a horse's hooves left the ground at the same time during a gallop.

1878

Successfully photographed a horse in fast motion

1894

Returned to his native England

1904

Died on May 8 in Kingston upon Thames while living at the home of his cousin Catherine Smith