William Henry Fox Talbot, February 11, 1800–September 17, 1877, was a British photographer, scientist, and writer. Born at Melbury House in Dorset, he was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. His mother, Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, took an active role in his early education. He lived at Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire.

Talbot began his photographic experiments in the 1830s. He developed photogenic drawing and the calotype, a paper negative process that allowed multiple positive prints from one negative. He shared scientific interests and correspondence with John Herschel and David Brewster, and announced his photographic process in 1839.

His photographs appeared in The Pencil of Nature (1844–1846), an early book illustrated with original photographs, and Sun Pictures in Scotland (1845). He died at Lacock Abbey. His work is held by the National Science and Media Museum, the British Library, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, among other collections.

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