Pierre-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière

Pierre-Gustave-Gaspard Joly de Lotbinière[1] (February 5, 1798 - June 8, 1865) was a French businessman and amateur daguerreotypist, born in Frauenfeld, Switzerland and citizen of the Republic of Geneva,[2] and married to a Canadian seigneuress.

While the father and the eldest son, Moïse-Salomon, remained in Épernay, Pierre-Gustave travelled far and wide to find new buyers, first concentrating on Europe, including Germany, Poland, Russia and Sweden, eventually even crossing the Atlantic Ocean to visit the United States and Canada.

In 1839, Joly was in Paris at the time when Louis Daguerre unveiled his early photographic process to the scientific world.

Embarking on a trip to the Middle East, Pierre-Gustave acquired one of the first daguerreotype cameras from Noël Paymal Lerebours in order to make photographic records of the ancient monuments he was about to see on his journey.

There, he met the painter Horace Vernet and his nephew, Frédéric Goupil-Fesquet, who were also carrying daguerreotype equipment.

His wife died in Quebec, October 24, 1887, having survived her husband for many years, aged 77 and her remains was buried at Vaudreuil.

His eldest son, Sir Henri-Gustave Joly served as Premier of Quebec and Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.