The maker of this image, W. F. Padelford, is otherwise unknown. The back of the image includes his advertising card, which lists the place of business as Pawtucket, Mass., which is clearly an error: Pawtucket is a seaport in Rhode Island. It was quite common, especially by the late 1850’s, for photographers to place such printed advertising cards on the backs of their products.

About the subject of the portrait, nothing further is known, except that this ambrotype is a copy of an earlier sixth plate daguerreotype, from around 1850.  Of note is the fact that the man wears an earring in each of his ears.