[2] George's early education was at the Ballston Spa Institute, an elite boys' boarding school.

Rockwood used to say that his mind was turned to inventions by meeting Samuel Morse when the inventor of the telegraph was exhibiting his instruments at the United States Hotel in Saratoga.

It was in this studio that the Rockwoods met, photographed and made friends with so many of the famous men and women of their time.

For a short period of time in 1865 Rockwood's studio employed photographer William Kurtz, prior to his pioneering work with halftone printing.

Rockwood's reputation brought him a large business, but near the time of his brother Elihu's death in 1908 he filed for bankruptcy, with assets consisting of a note for $66, two patents and 514 shares "of no value".

[6] George Rockwood received an honorary PhD from Columbia University late in life for his contributions to the arts.