George Eastman, who founded the Eastman Kodak Company in 1880, was responsible for making millions of Americans into amateur photographers. In 1879, he invented and patented a machine that coated the glass plates then used in cameras. Four years after the founding of his company, Eastman developed flexible roll films and in 1888, he began producing the Kodak, a light camera. His factory was located in
Rochester.
George Eastman was born on July 12, 1854, in Waterville. He died in 1932. He was widely regarded as one of the pioneer inventor-manufacturers, in the same league as Thomas A. Edison and George Westinghouse.
