Émile Hortensius Charles Cros (born 1 October 1842 in Fabrezan; died 9 August 1888 in Paris) was an inventor and creative writer. As a scientist, he advanced colour photography and was the first person to conceive of the phonograph. A respected poet, Cros contributed to the

Parnasse contemporain

, the

Chat noir

cabaret, and the literary groups the Hydropathes and the Zutistes.

Cros was raised in an educated and artistic family from present-day Occitania (southern France); the family, including his two brothers and one sister, relocated to Paris in 1844. Cros’ grandfather was a grammarian and professor, and his father a philosopher. As a child, Cros studied maths, piano, and modern and classical languages under the tutelage of his father. From fall 1860 until February 1863, he tutored at

1686 words

Citation: Gardner, Darci. "Charles Cros". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 September 2024 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5721, accessed 22 November 2024.]

5721 Charles Cros 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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