Augustus Moore Herring
Encyclopedia
Augustus Moore Herring was an American aviation pioneer, who flew a compressed-air powered aircraft in 1898, five years before the Wright Brothers
made their own powered flight. It has been claimed that he was the first aviator of a motorized heavier-than-air aircraft.
, Georgia
, to William F. Herring, a wealthy cotton broker, and his wife Cloe Perry Conyers. He studied in both Switzerland
and Germany
, before his family settled in New York in 1884. In 1888, when he was a student at the Stevens Institute of Technology
, Herring was already building models of flying machines. By 1893, he had built a full sized glider – which he crashed when trying to leave the ground. He began studying glider expert Otto Lilienthal
's work. In 1894, Herring built a Type 11-monoplane glider based on Otto Lilienthal
‘s 1893 German patent.
Herring was then hired by Octave Chanute
to build the aircraft Herring had drawn plans for. The following year, he assisted Samuel Pierpont Langley
in his experiments. Herring soon began experimenting on his own. In 1896, he applied for the earliest patent of its type in the United States: for a man-supporting, heavier-than-air, "flying machine " that was motor powered and controllable, but the patent application was rejected.
On October 11, 1898, Herring boarded an aircraft of his own design and flew 50 feet (15.2 m) using a compressed air engine at Silver Beach Amusement Park
in St. Joseph, Michigan
. A longer glide/flight followed 11 days later and was witnessed by local newspaper reporters.
In 1909 Herring joined with Glenn Curtiss
to create the Herring-Curtiss Company. The next year, he left Curtiss and joined Starling Burgess in Marblehead, Massachusetts
to design and build aeroplanes. He left Burgess after a year, following disagreements with another Burgess partner, Greely S. Curtis. Herring brought suit against Glenn Curtis, claiming he had been cheated out of his property and ideas.
Herring was partially paralyzed by a series of strokes, but did aviation design work for the United States Army
during World War I
.
He died in 1926 at the age of 59, survived by his wife, the former Lillian Mellen. Ironically, two years later Herring won his suit against Curtis with a sizeable financial award.
Herring's defenders point out that hang-glider fliers today steer their aircraft by shifting their body, as Herring did. The Wright brothers' steering mechanism, a "wing warping" technique, was impractical and was abandoned in aviation very early.
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
made their own powered flight. It has been claimed that he was the first aviator of a motorized heavier-than-air aircraft.
Biography
Herring was born in CovingtonCovington, Georgia
Covington is a city in Newton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 13,118. The city is the county seat of Newton County...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, to William F. Herring, a wealthy cotton broker, and his wife Cloe Perry Conyers. He studied in both Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, before his family settled in New York in 1884. In 1888, when he was a student at the Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
, Herring was already building models of flying machines. By 1893, he had built a full sized glider – which he crashed when trying to leave the ground. He began studying glider expert Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal was a German pioneer of human aviation who became known as the Glider King. He was the first person to make well-documented, repeated, successful gliding flights. He followed an experimental approach established earlier by Sir George Cayley...
's work. In 1894, Herring built a Type 11-monoplane glider based on Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal was a German pioneer of human aviation who became known as the Glider King. He was the first person to make well-documented, repeated, successful gliding flights. He followed an experimental approach established earlier by Sir George Cayley...
‘s 1893 German patent.
Herring was then hired by Octave Chanute
Octave Chanute
Octave Chanute was a French-born American railway engineer and aviation pioneer. He provided the Wright brothers with help and advice, and helped to publicize their flying experiments. At his death he was hailed as the father of aviation and the heavier-than-air flying machine...
to build the aircraft Herring had drawn plans for. The following year, he assisted Samuel Pierpont Langley
Samuel Pierpont Langley
Samuel Pierpont Langley was an American astronomer, physicist, inventor of the bolometer and pioneer of aviation...
in his experiments. Herring soon began experimenting on his own. In 1896, he applied for the earliest patent of its type in the United States: for a man-supporting, heavier-than-air, "flying machine " that was motor powered and controllable, but the patent application was rejected.
On October 11, 1898, Herring boarded an aircraft of his own design and flew 50 feet (15.2 m) using a compressed air engine at Silver Beach Amusement Park
Silver Beach Amusement Park
Silver Beach Amusement Park was located in St. Joseph, Michigan. The small amusement park operated between 1891 and 1971.-History:Silver Beach opened as a resort in 1891 when local businessmen in boat building Logan Drake and Louis D. Wallace built vacation cottages as Silver Beach Amusement and...
in St. Joseph, Michigan
St. Joseph, Michigan
St. Joseph is a city in the US state of Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,789. It lies on the shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, about east-northeast of Chicago. It is the county...
. A longer glide/flight followed 11 days later and was witnessed by local newspaper reporters.
In 1909 Herring joined with Glenn Curtiss
Glenn Curtiss
Glenn Hammond Curtiss was an American aviation pioneer and a founder of the U.S. aircraft industry. He began his career as a bicycle then motorcycle builder and racer, later also manufacturing engines for airships as early as 1906...
to create the Herring-Curtiss Company. The next year, he left Curtiss and joined Starling Burgess in Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
to design and build aeroplanes. He left Burgess after a year, following disagreements with another Burgess partner, Greely S. Curtis. Herring brought suit against Glenn Curtis, claiming he had been cheated out of his property and ideas.
Herring was partially paralyzed by a series of strokes, but did aviation design work for the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
He died in 1926 at the age of 59, survived by his wife, the former Lillian Mellen. Ironically, two years later Herring won his suit against Curtis with a sizeable financial award.
Claims as first to fly
Aviation historian Phil Scott in The Shoulders of Giants: A History of Human Flight to 1919 (1995, ISBN 0201627221) wrote that he does not consider Herring a candidate for the first flight claim. Scott says Herring's glider was difficult to steer and his two-cylinder, three-horsepower compressed air engine could operate for only 30 seconds at a time. Scott considers Herring as having simply expanded the traditional hang-gliding by adding an engine.Herring's defenders point out that hang-glider fliers today steer their aircraft by shifting their body, as Herring did. The Wright brothers' steering mechanism, a "wing warping" technique, was impractical and was abandoned in aviation very early.
External links
- History Flies in Michigan. Google HTML version. includes Michigan House Resolution No. 553 (2002) which honors and thanks Herring. Says Herring born in 1867.
- Chanute Exhibit. which mentions Herring work.
- Michigan History -Silver Beach St. Joseph, Michigan. with story of Herring 1898 flight.
- Photo of Augustus Herring's powered biplane
- Langley and Herring 1895.
- Chanute and Herring 1896–8.
- Herring and the Wright Brothers.
- Chanute Papers at LOC. with Herring letters.
- Augustus Moore Herring Papers at Cornell University.
- Herring article. Says family also claims a first flight in an Oct. 11, 1998 South Bend Tribune article.
- Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009.