Frederick William Sutton

Frederick William Sutton (29 August 1832 - 28 January 1883) was an English amateur photographer and naval engineer known for his work in Japan during the Meiji period. Born in Woolwich to a civil engineer, he joined the Royal Navy in 1854, rising through the ranks to become Chief Engineer by 1864.

In 1865, Sutton was assigned to HMS Serpent for surveying duties in the China Sea and Japan. He began photographing Japan in May 1867, using collodion-treated glass plates. His notable works included portraits of Tokugawa Yoshinobu and landscapes like Osaka Castle. He also captured images of the Ainu people in Hakodate, possibly the first such photographs.

Sutton returned to Japan in 1873 as part of a British naval mission, teaching at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy. He became proficient in Japanese and immersed himself in local culture, even hosting tea parties with his daughters in Tokyo's foreign community. However, health issues led to his departure in 1879.

Upon returning to England, Sutton attempted lantern slide lectures about his travels but died of heart problems and Dropsy in 1883. His photographs contributed significantly to early visual documentation of Japan during the Meiji era.