Opinion, could this be NBForrest?

[chuck_1865]

Hi Group!
I am a new to this forum, and I wanted to make this post to get your opinion, since I would consider you folks the most knowledgeable regarding people of the civil war. I recently bought a 1/9th plate daguerreotype. There are no markings on it, so I do not know who the photographer was, nor where it came from originally. The dag was likely made during the mid-1850s. The subject, or person photographed however, looks remarkably like Nathan Bedford Forrest. This dag would have been made when he was a successful business man in Memphis. At this time, he would have been in his mid-30's, and would look a little younger and less "saddle-worn" than in the war photographs we are used to seeing of him. The hair, cheekbones, eyes, and general appearance looks like him. So here is the question...Do you think the person in this daguerreotype is Nathan Bedford Forrest?

Thanks!
Chuck _1865

 

[Will Carry]

It sure looks like it. The nose, the ears, the cheeks, the hair line.

 

[UCVRelics]

I do not believe that it is. Most of the photos of NBF are know that is not to say that there is not an unknown one out there. I can't remember the guy who owns a bunch of the originals but I would say @diane would know his name.

 

[zburkett]

It does look like him. Did NBF have brothers?

 

[Eggman]

I say nope.

 

[FarawayFriend]

I'm really curious what @diane will say to this.
I think he looks very similar, but is not NBF. The nose looks quite the same and some other features too, but the expression is different. Maybe because of the eyebrows. The eyebrows seem to be different...
But he sure is a very handsome man! Great find, @chuck_1865, no matter if it's indeed NBF or not!

 

[Will Carry]

The lips don't seem to match. Forrest seems to have no ear lobes and the fellow in question does seem to have them. He could be a double if he isn't the real thing.

 

[Patrick H]

I don't think so, although the similarity is remarkable. The upper edge of his mustache doesn't match Forrest. That's a margin of the facial hair that would seldom be cut with a razor. I'll defer to Diane's opinion.

 

[Zella]

I agree with @FarawayFriend that the eyebrows don't seem to match. This man's eyebrows seem more angular and Forrest's seem rounder. However, they do favor a lot. It's a neat picture. Maybe a Forrest relative?

 

[diane]

I do not believe that it is. Most of the photos of NBF are know that is not to say that there is not an unknown one out there. I can't remember the guy who owns a bunch of the originals but I would say @diane would know his name.

Yes, there was a poster tagged nbforrestiv who was briefly on the N B Forrest Photos thread on that forum.

Well, I've seen a couple pictures of Forrest much younger than his war pictures, and at least one of him without his beard - which is kind of weird at first! This gentleman in the daguerreotype is not N B Forrest. It's not any of his brothers, either. It's a fine picture, though - good looking gentleman!

 

[Zella]

Well, I've seen a couple pictures of Forrest much younger than his war pictures, and at least one of him without his beard - which is kind of weird at first!

It's always so freaky to see men without their normal facial hair--or, if they're always clean-shaven, to see them suddenly sporting facial hair.

Is the beardless Forrest picture online anywhere? I don't think I've ever seen any photo of him without facial hair.

 

[diane]

It's always so freaky to see men without their normal facial hair--or, if they're always clean-shaven, to see them suddenly sporting facial hair.

Is the beardless Forrest picture online anywhere? I don't think I've ever seen any photo of him without facial hair.

I believe this photo - a daguerreotype - was taken when he was between 20 and 24, and he looked a lot younger. (Forrest is one of those people you have a really hard time visualizing as a kid!) It's located inside an original copy of the Jordan and Pryor book, and so not available online. He has a very sharp chin and sensitive mouth, which in later years was carried with firmness.

It does look like him. Did NBF have brothers?

Forrest had five full brothers and three half brothers. None of them would be the right age for this photo - there was ten years between him and John, and the rest of the full brothers. Jeff was born when Forrest was 16. The Luxtons were way younger - two of them did serve in the last couple years of the war, being just barely of age. When the war ended, 44 year old Forrest's sister was 12!

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy. Congrats on your purchase

 

[Zella]

I believe this photo - a daguerreotype - was taken when he was between 20 and 24, and he looked a lot younger. It's located inside an original copy of the Jordan and Pryor book, and so not available online. He has a very sharp chin and sensitive mouth, which in later years was carried with firmness.

Ah okay--thank you!

(Forrest is one of those people you have a really hard time visualizing as a kid!)

Hmm You know, I never thought about that before, but now that you mention it, it is hard to visualize him as a kid!

 

[donna]

Thanks diane, always know you will be able to tell us about Forrest and his family.

It is a nice photo and a good looking man.

 

[James N.]

No.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[Stony]

No...

 

[Jimklag]

Welcome, Chuck. If @diane says it's not him, that's good enough for me.

 

[BlueNGrey]

Two different animals

 

[diane]

There is a little oddity that might be mentioned, about people from a certain area or region looking like they are related. Today it's quite uncommon, but back then it was almost the norm. People married with inter-related people, not necessarily a blood relation but somehow connected, and so it wasn't unusual for people to look alike. Abraham Lincoln, for instance, looks like a very unusual man with distinctive features - however, in the region of Kentucky where he was born, there were lots of men who looked exactly like him! His features were not unique there - in fact, there was one fellow who looked so much like Lincoln people thought he was Lincoln's real father. (Lincoln suspected that might be so himself!)