James Smith McDonnell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Smith McDonnell
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James Smith McDonnell
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| Born | April 9, 1899 Denver, Colorado, U.S.
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| Died | August 22, 1980 (aged 81) St Louis, Missouri, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Princeton University (B.S., Physics, 1921) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.S., Aeronautical Engineering, 1925) |
| Known for | McDonnell Douglas |
| Awards | NAS Award in Aeronautical Engineering Daniel Guggenheim Medal (1963) |
James Smith "Mac" McDonnell (born April 9, 1899 – died August 22, 1980) was an American expert in planes and rockets. He was an aviation pioneer, meaning he was one of the first to do important work in flying. He started the company McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. This company later became McDonnell Douglas, which is now part of Boeing. He also created the James S. McDonnell Foundation, which helps science and education.
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Early Life and Education
James McDonnell was born in Denver, Colorado. He grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. He finished high school in Little Rock in 1917.
He went to Princeton University and earned a degree in Physics in 1921. Later, he studied at MIT. There, he got a Master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1925. This degree taught him how to design and build aircraft. After MIT, he worked for several airplane companies.
Building an Aviation Career
In 1928, McDonnell started his own company called J.S. McDonnell & Associates. He wanted to design his own aircraft. His first design was called the Doodle Bug. This plane was part of a contest to find a very safe airplane. Even though the Doodle Bug didn't win, it showed McDonnell's skills.
Because of the Great Depression, his company faced difficulties. He then worked for other companies like Great Lakes Aircraft Company. Later, he became an engineer for the Glenn L. Martin Company.
Founding McDonnell Aircraft
In 1938, James McDonnell left his job to start a new company. He founded McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in 1939. The company was based in St. Louis. It quickly became a major supplier of fighter aircraft for the U.S. military.
McDonnell Aircraft built famous planes like the F-4 Phantom II. They also built space capsules for NASA's early space programs. These included the Mercury and Gemini capsules. These capsules carried the first American astronauts into space.
McDonnell Douglas and Beyond
In 1967, McDonnell Aircraft joined with the Douglas Aircraft Company. This created a new, larger company called McDonnell Douglas. This new company continued to build important aircraft. They developed famous fighter jets like the F-15 Eagle and the F/A-18 Hornet.
McDonnell also cared about global cooperation. He served as chairman of the United Nations Association of the United States. In 1958, his company was the first to make United Nations Day a paid holiday for its employees. In 1980, he received a special award for his work in aeronautical engineering.
James McDonnell's nephew, Sanford N. McDonnell, took over as chairman of McDonnell Douglas in 1980. In 1997, McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing.
Personal Life
James McDonnell was married twice. He had two sons, James Smith McDonnell, III, and John Finney McDonnell. His first wife, Mary Elizabeth Finney, passed away in 1949. He later married Priscilla Brush Forney and adopted her three children.
James McDonnell passed away on August 22, 1980, at the age of 81.
Legacy and Tributes
James McDonnell left a lasting impact. In 1950, he started the James S. McDonnell Foundation. This foundation supports science, education, and charity projects around the world.
Many places are named after him. The McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences was co-founded by him. McDonnell Hall at Princeton University, his old school, is also named in his honor. It even has a design inspired by airplanes.
Other tributes include McDonnell Park in St. Louis County. The McDonnell Planetarium at the Saint Louis Science Center is also named for him. There are also buildings and a boulevard near the St. Louis airport that carry his name.
In 1977, James McDonnell was honored in the National Aviation Hall of Fame. This recognized his important contributions to aviation.
