Robert W. Paul

Directing • 1869-10-04 • Highbury, London, England, UK

Robert William Paul (3 October 1869 – 28 March 1943) was an English film pioneer and scientific instrument maker. He began producing narrative films as early as April 1895, initially shown on Edison Kinetoscope-style devices, and by 1896 he was projecting them—around the same time the Lumière brothers were developing projected cinema in France. In addition to his filmmaking, Paul achieved success as an inventor, notably creating the Unipivot galvanometer. In 1999, the British film industry honored his contributions with a commemorative plaque at his former workshop at 44 Hatton Garden, London.