John Eastham 1820 - 1889

John Eastham was a 19th century photographer based in Manchester, who was briefly in partnership with Alexander Bassano of London.

Eastham is first recorded as delivering a lecture and demonstration on the new "science" of photography for the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge in Preston, Lancashire in January 1846. In February of 1849 he was advertising that his services for customers wishing to commission photographs of landscapes in Switzerland and Italy. In December of that year he was also promoting his services as a portrait photographer, and was based in Blackpool. Eastham may have been working with his younger brother Silas at this time, and the two were known to be in partnership in 1852.

Eastham seems to have got into financial difficulties in Preston, with claims being lodged against him by creditors in 1854. By June 1857, his fortunes seem to have revived, as he was advertising himself as "Photographer to the Queen" and had premises above a shop at 22 St Ann's Square, Manchester. Advertisements from this time focus on portrait photography. Eastham died in Birkenhead in 1889.