Meet the Inventors
Born April 16, 1867 in Indiana, Wilbur is the older of the two brothers. Orville was then born August 19, 1871 in Ohio. The brothers were two of seven siblings born to Milton Wright and Susan Koerner. Their father was a newspaper editor and bishop who was known for encouraging his children to always pursue their interests.
Orville and Wilbur were very close and followed similar paths. Once Orville dropped out of high school to start his own printing business in 1889, Wilbur, also a high school dropped out, joined the company to help as an editor. Even though neither brother graduated from high school, they both received honorary degrees from prestigious schools such as Harvard and Yale after the invention of their airplane.
Shortly came the national bicycle craze and the brothers quickly took part by opening their own repair and sales shop in 1892. By 1896, they were manufacturing their own brand. The money they made from the bike shop was used to finance the development of the airplane.
Around 1899, the brothers became interested in the practice of those who were building and flying gliders and steam-powered aircraft around the world. Quickly they took matters into their own hands and began their mechanic adventures within aeronautics. The brothers were known for working as an excellent partnership and took equal credit in their inventions, fails, and successes.
After many trials, the Wright Brothers flew the nation's first powered airplane in flight December 17, 1903. They then signed a contract with President Theodore Roosevelt to build airplanes for the US army. This pursued until Wilbur died in 1912 from typhoid fever. Without his brother and partner, it is said that Orville decided to stop inventing. He then died in 1948.
The brothers never got married. There is speculation today that both may have been affected by Asperger's Syndrome, a form of Autism, and a diagnosis that was not even known during their time. However, they lived a very fulfilling life in which we still honor their inventions and work today.
Orville and Wilbur were very close and followed similar paths. Once Orville dropped out of high school to start his own printing business in 1889, Wilbur, also a high school dropped out, joined the company to help as an editor. Even though neither brother graduated from high school, they both received honorary degrees from prestigious schools such as Harvard and Yale after the invention of their airplane.
Shortly came the national bicycle craze and the brothers quickly took part by opening their own repair and sales shop in 1892. By 1896, they were manufacturing their own brand. The money they made from the bike shop was used to finance the development of the airplane.
Around 1899, the brothers became interested in the practice of those who were building and flying gliders and steam-powered aircraft around the world. Quickly they took matters into their own hands and began their mechanic adventures within aeronautics. The brothers were known for working as an excellent partnership and took equal credit in their inventions, fails, and successes.
After many trials, the Wright Brothers flew the nation's first powered airplane in flight December 17, 1903. They then signed a contract with President Theodore Roosevelt to build airplanes for the US army. This pursued until Wilbur died in 1912 from typhoid fever. Without his brother and partner, it is said that Orville decided to stop inventing. He then died in 1948.
The brothers never got married. There is speculation today that both may have been affected by Asperger's Syndrome, a form of Autism, and a diagnosis that was not even known during their time. However, they lived a very fulfilling life in which we still honor their inventions and work today.
CITATIONS:
GreenLight LLC (2012). Bios. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://wrightbrothers.info/biography.php. [Last Accessed 11 November 13].
National Air and Space Museum (). The Wright Brothers. [ONLINE]
Available at:
http://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/wright-brothers/online/who/index.cfm.
[Last Accessed 11 November 13].
Carolyn Bass (2013). New Novel Suggests Wright Brothers Had Asperger's Syndrome. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carolyn-bass/new-novel-suggests-wright_b_3167940.html. [Last Accessed 17 November 13].
AEROPLANE Co. (2011). Wright Trivia. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.wright-brothers.org/Information_Desk/Just_the_Facts/Trivia/Wright_Trivia.htm.
[Last Accessed 18 November 13].
Photo Credit:
1. Sydenham, S. & Thomas,R. Wright
Brothers [Online] www.kidcyber.com.au(2006)
GreenLight LLC (2012). Bios. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://wrightbrothers.info/biography.php. [Last Accessed 11 November 13].
National Air and Space Museum (). The Wright Brothers. [ONLINE]
Available at:
http://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/wright-brothers/online/who/index.cfm.
[Last Accessed 11 November 13].
Carolyn Bass (2013). New Novel Suggests Wright Brothers Had Asperger's Syndrome. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carolyn-bass/new-novel-suggests-wright_b_3167940.html. [Last Accessed 17 November 13].
AEROPLANE Co. (2011). Wright Trivia. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.wright-brothers.org/Information_Desk/Just_the_Facts/Trivia/Wright_Trivia.htm.
[Last Accessed 18 November 13].
Photo Credit:
1. Sydenham, S. & Thomas,R. Wright
Brothers [Online] www.kidcyber.com.au(2006)