President Millard Fillmore Discusses the Photographs Made of Him, Saying the Daguerreotype by Matthew Brady Is the Best Likeness

“No man can form a correct judgment in such a case, because it is usually taken from the point of view in which he never sees his own face”

Robert E. Peterson and Co. published a set of books well known in its time, the “National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans, With Biographical Sketches.” They liked to keep the book current, and determined to publish a revised and updated set in 1853. They contacted the President directly to determine which photograph of him to include, and to obtain additional information they desired. Fillmore then gave a thorough assessment of the photographs, selected his favorite (which was Matthew Brady’s), and concluded by noting that no one can judge their own likeness.

Letter Signed as President, Washington City, May 27, 1852, to the Peterson firm. “Your letter of the 26th instant came to hand this morning, in which you inform me that you are about to publish a new edition of The National Gallery of Eminent Americans, carefully revised and continued to the present time, and express a desire to include in it my portrait and memoir, and ask for the most approved daguerreotype of my likeness, and also to be made acquainted, through some friend, with the necessary facts for the memoir to accompany the portrait. From what others say, my impression is that the best likeness of me was that contained in the Whig Review published in New York in the fall of 1848, from daguerreotype taken by Brady. I do not think that the daguerreotypes which have been recently taken are very accurate, nor is it likely they would be improved were I to sit again. A sketch of my life accompanied by an engraving of myself has recently been published, probably containing all that you would desire, a copy of which I have the honor now to enclose to you [not included]. The likeness is not thought to be good, but of course I cannot judge of it myself, as no man can form a correct judgment in such a case, because it is usually taken from the point of view in which he never sees his own face.”

Above: Fillmore’s favorite likeness, referenced in this letter.

Photography only became common around 1846, so in 1852 it was in its infancy. This is an uncommon and very early assessment of a US President of his own likeness. Moreover, it gives an interesting opening into the mind of President Fillmore, with him ending on the modest note that people cannot truly judge photographs of themselves. The Peterson firm published the revised book in 1853.