Samuel Franklin Cody

Samuel Franklin Cody
Samuel Franklin Cody in 1909
Born
Samuel Franklin Cowdery

6 March 1867 (1867-03-06)
Davenport, Iowa, USA
Died7 August 1913(1913-08-07) (aged 46)
Cove Common, Farnborough, United Kingdom
Occupation(s)Showman, aviator, aircraft designer
SpouseMaud Maria Lee
Children1

Samuel Franklin Cowdery (later known as Samuel Franklin Cody; 6 March 1867 – 7 August 1913, born Davenport, Iowa, USA[1]) was a Wild West showman and early pioneer of manned flight.

He is most famous for his work on the large kites known as Cody War-Kites, that were used by the British before World War I as a smaller alternative to balloons for artillery spotting. He was also the first man to fly an aeroplane built in Britain, on 17 October 1908.[2][3] A flamboyant showman, he was often confused with Buffalo Bill Cody,[4] whose surname he took when young.

  1. ^ Newnes Family Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. London: George Newnes Ltd. p. 727.)
  2. ^ Taylor 1983 p. 28
  3. ^ Gibbs-Smith, Charles H. (23 May 1958). "S.F. Cody: An Historian's Comments". Flight. 73 (2574): 699. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  4. ^ For example, see Pawle, 1956, p36.