Frederick Albert Bridge

Frederick Albert Bridge or F. A. Bridge (18 December 1841 – 29 December 1917) was an English photographer, organist, singer and choirmaster.

He was born in Shadwell. He maintained a professional photographer's studio at Dalston Lane, Hackney, and was a member of the Photographic Club. He served as treasurer of the South London Photographic Society in 1877 and as secretary of the London & Provincial Photographic Association in 1888. He completed a series of photographs of tunneling on the Central London Railway in 1897. In 1874 he gave a series of lectures entitled "Gems of English Scenery and Song", accompanied by magic lantern slides. He also wrote articles on photography which were published in professional journals.[1]

Besides his photography career, Bridge was successful as a conductor and singer. He worked for many years as choirmaster of St Martin-in-the-Fields. He also served as organist and choirmaster of St Martin, Ludgate, and conducted the St. John’s Choral Society.[2] From 1872, Bridge worked in London theater, performing principal roles in operettas by Offenbach and Gilbert and Sullivan.[1]

Bridge married organist and composer Elizabeth Stirling (1818–1895) on 16 May 1863 in Stepney. After she died, he married Eliza Mary Perfect Harding (1845–1910) on 2 April 1896, who served as his photographic assistant.[3] Bridge died in Bognor after a fall while on holiday and was buried in Abney Park Cemetery.[1]

Photograph of Elizabeth Stirling by her husband F.A. Bridge