Born Bury; studied and practiced law but an inheritance gave him the independent means to pursue his interest in art; took up photography in 1852; Fenton was a founding member of the (Royal) Photographic Society and one of the most influential photographers of the 1850s. He is best known as one of the first war photographers, from his work in the Crimea in 1855. However, he also took many highly-regarded photographs of the Royal Family and the collections of the British Museum as well as many superb landscapes, architectural studies and still lifes. In 1862 gave up photography without explanation, selling his cameras and negatives at auction; returned to practicing law.