Born Krems an der Donau in Austira-Hungary in 1855; studied chemistry at Vienna University; lecturer at Vienna University of Technology, researching chemistry of photography, developing the sensitized gelatin silver process; experimented in spectroscopy and developed several new pieces of equipment including a photometer (the Eder-Hecht neutral wedge photometer) and the 'mercury oxalate photometer'; researched the effects of x-rays on photosensitive material; wrote 'Extensive Handbook of Photography' in the 1880s; awarded Progress Medal by Royal Photographic Society in 1884; founder of the Institute for Photography and Reproduction Techniques.