Photographer F.W.Guerin

This is one of my cabinet cards that was done by Photographer F. W. Guerin, 12th Street & Washington Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, circa 1890. 
Fitz William Guerin was born in Dublin, Ireland, March 17, 1846. His parents were both born in France. The family arrived in the United States in 1849. Guerin is listed as a photographer in St. Louis in both the 1880 and 1900 census. He served in Company A, 1st Missouri Light Artillery, during the Civil War. He married D Ella Bell, July 3, 1879.
He was an accomplished and successful photographer, He won a Medal at World’s Exposition, Paris, 1878; Highest Prize at the Photographic Convention, Cincinnati, 1884; Gold Medal at the World’s Exposition, New Orleans, 1885; Diamond Medal at the Photographic Convention, Chicago, 1887; Medal at the World’s Exposition, Paris, 1889.
A further search of the internet revealed that Fitz W. Guerin was regarded as one of the two best photographers to ever work in St. Louis. Most of his work was society portraiture. Guerin was also a winner of the Congressional Medal Of Honor, for bravery in combat, April 28 & 29, 1863. It was during the Civil War that he became interested in photography, having come in contact with battlefield photographers. He worked for several established photographers, learning the methods of each, prior to opening his own studio in 1876.