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The Early Life of Wilbur Wright
Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867, Wilbur was the middle child out of a family of five. Their father, Milton Wright, was a bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Their mother was Susan Catherine Koerner. As children, their playmates would always be each other. -
The Early Life of Orville Wright
Orville Wright was born on August 19, 1871. Orville was the second youngest out of a family of five. Their father, Milton Wright, was a bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Their mother was Susan Catherine Koerner. As children, their playmates would always be each other. -
The School Life of Wilbur
Wilbur was a bright and studious child and excelled in school. His personality was outgoing and robust, and he made plans to attend Yale University after high school. In the winter of 1885-86, an accident changed the course of Wilbur’s life. He was badly injured in an ice hockey game when another player’s stick hit him in the face. -
Wilbur's Sadness
Though most of his injuries healed, the incident plunged Wilbur into a depression. He did not receive his high school diploma, canceled plans for college, and retreated to his family’s home. Wilbur spent much of this period at home, reading books in his family’s library, and caring for his ailing mother. Susan Koerner died in 1889 of tuberculosis. -
The Daily Mirror
In 1889 the brothers started their own newspaper, the West Side News. Wilbur edited the paper, and Orville was the publisher. The brothers also shared a passion for bicycles- a new craze that was sweeping the country. In 1892 Wilbur and Orville opened a bike shop, fixing bicycles and selling their own design. -
The Beginning of The Airplanes
Wilbur and Orville set to work trying to figure out how to design wings for flight. They observed that birds angled their wings for balance and control, and tried to emulate this, developing a concept called “wing warping.” -
The First Airplane
When they added a moveable rudder, the Wright brothers found they had the magic formula-on December 17, 1903, they succeeded in flying the first free, controlled flight of a power-driven, heavier than an airplane. Wilbur flew their plane for 59 seconds, over a distance of 852 feet, an extraordinary achievement. -
The Travel to Europe
The Wright brothers soon found that their success was not appreciated by all. Many in the press, as well as fellow flight experts, were reluctant to believe the brothers’ claims at all. As a result, Wilbur set out for Europe in 1908, where he hoped he would have more success convincing the public and selling airplanes -
The European Exposure
In France, Wilbur found a much more receptive audience. He made many public flights and gave rides to officials, journalists, and statesmen. In 1909 Orville joined his brother in Europe, as did their younger sister Katharine. The Wrights became huge celebrities there, hosted by royals and heads of state, and constantly featured in the press. The brothers became wealthy businessmen, filling contracts for airplanes in Europe and the United States. -
BTS
Wilbur and Orville always took shared credit for their innovations and maintained a close relationship throughout their lives. Behind the scenes, however, there was a division of labor. With his sharp instincts, Wilbur was the business mind and executive of the operation, serving as president of the Wright company. -
The Death of Wilbur Wright
Wilbur fell ill on a trip to Boston in April 1912. He was diagnosed with typhoid fever and died on May 30 at his family home in Dayton, Ohio. -
The Death of Orville Wright
On January 30, 1948, Orville died after suffering a second heart attack. He is buried at the Wright family plot in Dayton, Ohio