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Wright (WILBUR an American inventor)

WILBUR, an American inventor, brother of ORVILLE WRIGHT (q. v.), born in Millville, Ind., in 1867.

The work of the two brothers is so closely associated that it is impossible to relate it separately. He went with his brother to France in 1908, where he won the Michelin prize for sustained flight.

During the Hudson-Fulton celebration he flew from Governor's Island to the Hudson river, which was considered a remarkable feat in those days. He received a gold medal from the French Academy of Sciences in 1909. He died in 1912. For a detailed account of the ORVILLE WRIGHT ceeded in actually flying, and followed this with perfecting a biplane of their own manufacture. Orville Wright made numerous flights in the United States and abroad, especially in France, where he and his brother were recognized as geniuses of a high order. In 1909 he was awarded a gold medal by the French Academy of Sciences, and received honorary degrees from several colleges.

He organized the Wright Aeroplane Company, but in 1915 sold out his interests. He was awarded many trophies and prizes for the development of the aeroplane. He also invented other devices to be used on aeroplanes, including the automatic stabilizer. He was a member of many societies relating to aeronautics. See AERONAUTICS.