1871 – 1948

Orville Wright

American aviation pioneer (1871–1948)

aircraft pilotinventorbusinesspersonscientist

Born

1871-08-19, Dayton

Died

1948-01-30

Birthplace state

Ohio

Biography

The Wright brothers, Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright, were American aviation pioneers generally credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first successful airplane. They made the first controlled, sustained flight of an engine-powered, heavier-than-air aircraft with the Wright Flyer on December 17, 1903, four miles (6 km) south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, at what is now known as Kill Devil Hills. In 1904 the Wright brothers developed the Wright Flyer II, which made longer-duration flights including the first circle, followed in 1905 by the first truly practical fixed-wing aircraft, the Wright Flyer III.

Occupation

Orville Wright is recorded as a aircraft pilot, a inventor, a businessperson and a scientist, born in Ohio (1871–1948).

Connections to Ohio

Orville Wright was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1871. Explore other notable figures from Ohio, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Ohio›Ohiohistory ›Historic sites in Ohio›

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Overview

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Geology

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LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

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Historical Maps

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Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

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Spotlight

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Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

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More notable figures from Ohio

Other historical figures born in Ohio, ranked by historical prominence.

Thomas Edison

American inventor and businessman (1847–1931)

Neil Armstrong

American astronaut and lunar explorer (1930–2012)

Ulysses S. Grant

president of the United States from 1869 to 1877

James A. Garfield

president of the United States in 1881

William McKinley

president of the United States from 1897 to 1901

Warren G. Harding

president of the United States from 1921 to 1923

Rutherford B. Hayes

president of the United States from 1877 to 1881

Frequently asked about Orville Wright

Who was Orville Wright?

Orville Wright was American aviation pioneer (1871–1948), born in Ohio (1871 – 1948).

When and where was Orville Wright born?

Orville Wright was born on 1871-08-19 in Dayton.

When did Orville Wright die?

Orville died on 1948-01-30.

What was Orville Wright known for?

Orville Wright is recorded as a aircraft pilot, a inventor, a businessperson and a scientist.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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