E. Lilian Todd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
E. Lilian Todd
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Todd in 1907
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| Born | June 12, 1865 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Died | September 26, 1937 (aged 72) |
Emma Lilian Todd (June 12, 1865 – September 26, 1937) was an amazing inventor who taught herself many things. She is known as the first woman in the world to design airplanes. She started her work in 1906. Her airplane design actually flew in 1910, with a pilot named Didier Masson at the controls.
Early Life and Learning
Lilian Todd was born in Washington, D.C. In the 1870s, she lived with her mother, Mary Todd, and her sister, Cora. People say her talent for inventing came from her grandfather.
Lilian went to school in Washington, D.C. She also taught herself how to use a typewriter. This skill helped her earn a living.
She worked at the Patent Office, where new inventions are registered. Later, she worked for the governor of Pennsylvania. She then moved back to New York to study law and learn more about patents. During the Spanish–American War, she was a secretary for a group called the Women's National War Relief Association.
A Brilliant Inventor
In 1896, Lilian Todd received a patent for a special holder for typewriters. This showed her early skill in inventing.
In the early 1900s, Lilian became very interested in aeronautics, which is the science of flight. She was inspired by seeing airships in London. She also saw them at a big fair in St. Louis in 1904. A drawing of an airplane in a Paris newspaper in 1906 also sparked her interest.
Lilian's airplane designs started to get a lot of attention. She even showed her first design at Madison Square Garden in New York City. A kind person named Olivia Sage became her supporter. Mrs. Sage gave Lilian money to build her first full-sized biplane. The Wittemann Brothers built this plane in 1908.
Lilian Todd's biplane had a frame made of spruce wood. Its wings were covered with muslin fabric. A special Rinek motor powered the plane. The airplane had two seats and was about 36 feet (11 meters) long.
Teaching Future Pilots
In 1908, Lilian Todd started the first Junior Aero Club. This club was created to teach young people about aviation and how to become pilots. The club met at Lilian's home in New York. Her living room became her workshop. It was filled with airplane models she designed and other mechanical toys.
Lilian was also known for inventing other things. She created a cabinet with a folding table. She also invented a cannon that could be fired by the sun's power. Other inventions included a sundial and a special musical device called an aeolian harp that could be attached to a tree.
Lilian wanted to fly her own airplane. However, she was not allowed to pilot it herself. But on November 7, 1910, her airplane did make a short flight. It hopped about 20 feet (6 meters) over the Garden City aviation field. Didier Masson was the pilot. The plane could not stay in the air for a long time.
Later Years
After Mrs. Sage passed away, Lilian Todd moved to Pasadena, California, in the 1920s. Later, she moved to Corona del Mar. She passed away in 1937. Her ashes were buried in the Moravian Cemetery on Staten Island in 1938.
See also
In Spanish: E. Lilian Todd para niños
