John Wilson

WILSON, John (18??-??) USA. Taught photography to SHIMOOKA Renjo in Yokohama during the late 19th century.

Shimooka went to Yokohama after it was opened to foreigners in 1859. He stayed with an American merchant, Raphael Schoyer.

An American photographer named Captain John Wilson who was also staying with Schoyer taught photography to Shimooka who later opened a makeshift photo studio (with equipment acquired from Wilson) in Yokohama in 1862.

Shimooka's foreign teacher was was previously unidentified with unclear names such as Winshin or Unshin. The Yokohama Archives of History recently confirmed that it was John Wilson. (2000.12.15)