Hugh Welch Diamond

Hugh Welch Diamond (1809 to 21 June 1886) was an early British psychiatrist who is also remembered as a photographer. He studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons, set up in private practice in Soho, London, and then chose to specialise in psychiatry. He was appointed to Springfield asylum, the first Surrey County Asylum, and later moved to Brookwood Hospital, also in Surrey. Diamond was fascinated by the possible use of photography in the treatment of mental disorders and made calotypes of the expressions of people suffering from mental illness. They served as records and, he claimed, as part of treatment, although there was little evidence of success. He was a founder of the Photographic Society, later its Secretary, and editor of the Photographic Journal, and he was also a founder member of the Royal Aeronautical Society. In 1855 he received a testimonial of 300 pounds for his services to photography.