Biography

William Friese-Greene (born William Edward Green) was a British portrait photographer and prolific inventor. He is principally known as a pioneer in the field of motion pictures. On 21 June 1889, Friese-Greene and civil engineer Mortimer Evans patented a 'chronophotographic' sequence camera, which takes its name from a description of the content. However, there is no record of a successful film projection as the claimed demonstration at the Chester Photographic Convention in 1890 was a failure. Friese-Greene's experiments in the field of motion pictures were at the expense of his other business interests and in 1891 he was declared bankrupt. To cover his debts he sold the rights to the 'chronophotographic' camera patent for £500. The renewal fee was never paid and the patent eventually lapsed.