Samuel Dixon Bourne: A Pioneer of Victorian India Samuel Dixon Bourne (1834 – 1912) stands as a pivotal figure in the history of photography and British colonial enterprise, specifically during the vibrant era of Victorian India. Born in Neasden, Hertfordshire, to Thomas Bourne and Harriet née Dobson, his early life was marked by a privileged education focused on classical studies and religious instruction—a foundation that would subt…