William E. Somerville
Encyclopedia
William E. Somerville was a Scottish
aircraft engineer.
in 1862 and worked as an electrical engineer for General Electric
in Coal City, Illinois
, later working for McComber Wire Rope Company. In 1907 he became mayor of Coal City, keeping the title until 1913. About the same time, he met and fly gliders designed by Octave Chanute
in nearby Gary, Indiana
. In 1910, Somerville started the Illinois Aero Construction Company with $250,000 in capitalization. Somerville designed a $40,000 seven-passenger aircraft believed to be one of the earliest with a forward facing engine
. Somerville patented up curled wing ends (winglets) which were the first practical application of the device in an aircraft. In 1911 Somerville leased 160 acres to build an airport and construct gliders. Somerville was sued by the Wright brothers
for patent infringements, but the case was dropped.
In 1912 Somerville hired pilot George Mestach to fly mail using his aircraft between New Orleans and Baton Rouge
. Mestach was involved in a mid-air crash with a Wright biplane in Chicago later in the year that killed pilot Howard Gill and left Mestach uninjured. Mestach was flying a Borel-Morane biplane, which was used as the basis for Somerville's first monoplane, which featured wing leveling stabilizers. Sommerville changed interests, eventually becoming a Captain in the Home Guard during WWI.
On December 13, 1924 a fire destroyed all of Sommerville's buildings and aircraft. Somerville hired Earl Daugherty to fly a Morane-Borel monoplane
in a Barnstorming act across the Midwest. The biplane is now owned by the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Somerville started the Somerville Engineering Company on the land once used as an airfield. He also founded the Wood-Web Porch Shade Company based on shades he saw in Germany
Somerville was also an accomplished musician, being featured as a solo clarinet with John Philip Sousa
. He passed away at age 81 in 1950.
In 2010 Somerville was inducted into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
aircraft engineer.
Early life
William E. Sommervile's father was a mechanical engineer in Scotland. Sommerville studied as a marine engineer in Scotland. Somerville immigrated to AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1862 and worked as an electrical engineer for General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
in Coal City, Illinois
Coal City, Illinois
Coal City is a village located in Braceville and Felix Townships in Grundy County, and a small portion in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,587 at the 2010 census. The Santa Fe Railway formerly served Coal City at Coal City Station....
, later working for McComber Wire Rope Company. In 1907 he became mayor of Coal City, keeping the title until 1913. About the same time, he met and fly gliders designed 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...
in nearby Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
. In 1910, Somerville started the Illinois Aero Construction Company with $250,000 in capitalization. Somerville designed a $40,000 seven-passenger aircraft believed to be one of the earliest with a forward facing engine
Tractor configuration
thumb|right|[[Evektor-Aerotechnik|Aerotechnik EV97A Eurostar]], a tractor configuration aircraft, being pulled into position by its pilot for refuelling....
. Somerville patented up curled wing ends (winglets) which were the first practical application of the device in an aircraft. In 1911 Somerville leased 160 acres to build an airport and construct gliders. Somerville was sued by the Wright brothers
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...
for patent infringements, but the case was dropped.
In 1912 Somerville hired pilot George Mestach to fly mail using his aircraft between New Orleans and Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. Mestach was involved in a mid-air crash with a Wright biplane in Chicago later in the year that killed pilot Howard Gill and left Mestach uninjured. Mestach was flying a Borel-Morane biplane, which was used as the basis for Somerville's first monoplane, which featured wing leveling stabilizers. Sommerville changed interests, eventually becoming a Captain in the Home Guard during WWI.
On December 13, 1924 a fire destroyed all of Sommerville's buildings and aircraft. Somerville hired Earl Daugherty to fly a Morane-Borel monoplane
Morane-Borel monoplane
-External links:* * -See also:...
in a Barnstorming act across the Midwest. The biplane is now owned by the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Somerville started the Somerville Engineering Company on the land once used as an airfield. He also founded the Wood-Web Porch Shade Company based on shades he saw in 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...
Somerville was also an accomplished musician, being featured as a solo clarinet with John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
. He passed away at age 81 in 1950.
In 2010 Somerville was inducted into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame.