Conrad Heyer

Conrad Heyer’s life unfolded in the quaint village of Waldoboro, once known as “Broad Bay,” nestled within the Massachusetts Bay Province. Yet, his legacy extends far beyond the boundaries of his birthplace. Heyer’s remarkable journey weaves together the threads of an American farmer, a valiant veteran of the Revolutionary War, and a centenarian who etched his name into the annals of history.

During the tumultuous days of the Revolutionary War, Heyer stood shoulder to shoulder with none other than the indomitable George Washington himself. Following the war’s tumultuous end, Heyer returned to the quiet life of a farmer in his beloved Waldoboro, where he toiled until his passing in 1856. In 1852, he sat for a daguerreotype, a photographic portrait that would forever immortalize his image and earn him the distinction of being perhaps the earliest-born person ever captured in a photograph.