The Economic Times

A lamp maker from Philadelphia sat motionless for 15 minutes in front of a homemade camera built with opera glass and copper in 1839; his picture became the first selfie ever taken

First selfie ever: Robert Cornelius achieved a milestone in 1839 as he created the first-ever photographic self-portrait. This endeavor required him to position himself carefully while employing early photographic equipment, enduring a lengthy exposure time. The daguerreotype process he used was both technically challenging and involved hazardous materials.