Edward James Muggeridge is born in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England. Details of his early childhood are scarce, but it's known he later changed his name to Eadweard Muybridge, reflecting his interest in Anglo-Saxon history and language.

At the age of 21, Muggeridge emigrates to the United States, settling in New York City and then moving to San Francisco, California, where he becomes a bookseller and publisher's agent.

While working in the book trade, Muybridge develops an interest in photography, possibly inspired by the burgeoning photographic industry and its applications in documenting the American landscape.

Sources suggest Muybridge may have briefly returned to England. It's speculated that he suffered a severe stagecoach accident during this period, resulting in a head injury that some believe contributed to later erratic behavior.

Muybridge begins to establish himself as a professional photographer, adopting the pseudonym 'Helios' and gaining recognition for his landscape and architectural photographs, particularly of Yosemite Valley. He uses wet plate collodion process.