b. about 1840; d. 14 January 1882
An American, O'Sullivan was the youngest and one of the most talented of the photographic team led by Mathew Brady, and a fine photographer of the American Civil War.
Like Alexander Gardner, he left Brady's firm because he felt that he was not receiving sufficient reward either financially or in terms of reputation (Brady insisted that all photographs taken by his employees bear his name).
Although he had a short life, dying at the age of 41 of tuberculosis, it was nevertheless an adventurous one. He was official photographer on some U.S. government expeditions, from 1869, and was appointed chief photographer for the US Treasury in 1880.
His work, much of which is quite spectacular, can be seen at the National Archives and at the Library of Congress, Washington DC, and at New York Public Library's Rare book room.
© Robert Leggat, 1999.