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 noircabaret, 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.]