Theodatus Fletcher was born in Middlebury on this day in 1805. Fletcher walked from Middlebury to western Pennsylvania with his older brother when he was just 11.

He had incredible mechanical skills and became a blacksmith, which, in turn, inspired him to pursue the education to become a surgeon. Fletcher’s blacksmithing skills translated into making anatomical models for medicine.

He also worked with images, creating daguerreotypes with a camera he made as early as 1840. Fletcher also pioneered the field of pisciculture, or fish culture, and experimented with the artificial breeding of trout.

The Vermont Book Of Days image taken at the Vermont History Expo.