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George Eastman ( July 12, 1854 - March 14, 1932) founded the Eastman Kodak Co. and invented roll film, which brought photography to the common man. The roll film was also the basis for the invention of the motion picture film, used by early filmmakers Thomas Edison, the Lumiere Brothers, and Georges Méliès.

Eastman was born in Waterville, New York, some 20 miles southwest of Utica, New York. His parents were George Washington Eastman and Maria Kilbourn.

On September 4, 1888 Eastman registered the trademark Kodak, and received a patent for his cameraA camera is a device used to take images (usually photographs), either singly or in sequence, with or without sound, such as with video cameras. The name is derived from camera obscura Latin for "dark chamber", an early mechanism for projecting images in which used roll film. He coined the phrase "You Press The Button and We Do The Rest."

Eastman endowed the Eastman School of MusicThe Eastman School of Music is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Rochester. It was established in 1921 by the Rochester philanthropist and Eastman Kodak magnate George Eastman, who was a music-lover. Eastman selected composer Howard Han of the University of RochesterLocated in Rochester, New York and founded in 1850, the University of Rochester is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian institution. A member of the Association of American Universities, Rochester offers degree programs at the bachelor's, master's, a, and chose the American composer Howard HansonHoward Harold Hanson ( October 28, 1896 February 26, 1981) was a composer, conductor and educator from the United States of America. Hanson was born in Wahoo, Nebraska to Swedish parents. In his infancy he studied music with his mother. Later, he studied to be its first director. Hanson made Eastman's school one of the most prestigious music schools in America.

In 1925, Eastman gave up the day-to-day management of Kodak, becoming Chairman of the Board. He thereafter concentrated on philanthropic activities. In his last couple of years Eastman was in great pain. He had trouble standing and his walking became a slow shuffle that was caused by an (unnamed at the time) degenerative disorder that was effecting his spine. A modern diagnosis would probably cite spinal stenosisSpinal stenosis is a medical condition where the spinal canal narrows and pinches the spinal cord and nerves. This results in low back pain as well as pain or abnormal sensations in the legs., a narrowing of the spinal canal caused by arthritisArthritis (from Greek arthro joint + itis inflammation) is a group of conditions that affect the health of the bone joints in the body. One in three adult Americans suffer from some form of arthritis and the disease affects about twice as many women as me in the joints of the back. He grew depressed knowing he would likely be spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair, something he saw his mother having to use the last two years of her life. In 1932, he ended his own life by a single gunshot to the heart with an automatic pistol, leaving a suicide noteA suicide note is a message left by someone who later attempts or commits suicide. Approximately one third of those who commit suicide leave notes. Research indicates that suicide notes have a profound effect on the grief of those who read them. Usefulnes that said "My work is done. Why wait?" Eastman is buried at Kodak Park in Rochester.

During his lifetime, he gave away an estimated $100 million, mostly to the University of Rochester and the Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMotto Mens et Manus ("mind and hand") Established 1861 School type Private President Charles Vest (successor Susan Hockfield to take office in December 2004) Location Cambridge, Mass. USA Enrollment 4,112 undergraduate, 6,228 graduate Faculty 974 Campus U (under the name of "Mr. Smith"). He also made substantial gifts to the Tuskegee Institute and the Hampton Institute. Upon his death, his entire residuary estate went to the University of Rochester. His former home at 900 East Avenue in Rochester, New York, was opened as the International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House in 1947. On the 100th anniversary of his birth in 1954, Eastman was honored with a postage stamp from the United States Post Office.