The French government announces that Louis Daguerre's photographic process is a gift "free to the world".

Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre ( (listen) də-GAIR, French: [lwi ʒɑk mɑ̃de daɡɛʁ]; 18 November 1787 – 10 July 1851) was a French artist and photographer, recognized for his invention of the eponymous daguerreotype process of photography. He became known as one of the fathers of photography. Though he is most famous for his contributions to photography, he was also an accomplished painter, scenic designer, and a developer of the diorama theatre.