Orville Wright, Katherine Wright (sister of Orville), and William Wright in 1909. Orville Wright, of course, was one of the "Wright Brothers." His sister took care of him throughout his life but when she decided to marry at age 51 (in 1926), he wouldn't speak to her. (Presumably, because she was "leaving him.") He didn't speak to her until over 2 years after her marriage when she contracted pneumonia and died. He was at her deathbed. William Wright is not identified but there was a famous British aviator of this name and about the right age. This may be that man. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress, Bain Collection

1910 photo of Orville Wright (Wright Brothers) and Hubert Latham (a famous French pilot). Orville (and Wilbur) Wright, of course, is credited with flying the first successful airplane in 1903. Hubert Latham was the first person to attempt to fly across the English Channel (and, because he failed, the first person to land a plane on water!). Less than two years after this photo was taken, Latham died in the French Congo. It was reported that he was mauled by a water buffalo but at least one other report said that he had been murdered. I bet that these two adventurous men had an interesting discussion! Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress, copyrighted by Cole.

During flight trials to win a contract from the U.S. Army Signal Corps, pilot Orville Wright and passenger Lt. Thomas Selfridge crashed in a Wright Flyer at Fort Myer, Virginia. Wright was injured, and Selfridge becomes the first passenger to die in an airplane accident. Another image of this crash can be found at: https://www.ancientfaces.com/photo/pilot-orville-wright-plane-crash-kills-lt-selfridg/1204822

This is a photo of Orville Wright added by Ancient Faces on January 11, 2012.

This is a photo of Orville Wright added by Ancient Faces on January 11, 2012.

Orville Wright and Lieutenant Lahm of the United States Signal Corps making the world's record flight at Fort Myer, on July 27--The aeroplane made fifty miles at a speed of about forty miles an hour

A photo of Orville Wright at start of flight, Fort Meyer [i.e. Myer], VA

Tending to pilot Orville Wright or passenger Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge after the crash of the Wright Military Flyer at Fort Myer, Virginia The plane crashed when a propeller broke and the Lieutenant became the first passenger killed in an airplane crash. Another image of this crash can be found at: https://www.ancientfaces.com/photo/september-1908-orville-wright-plane-crash/1348581

Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright seated on steps of rear porch, 7 Hawthorne St., Dayton, Ohio

A photo of Orville Wright at about age 3.

This is a photo of Orville Wright added by Ancient Faces on January 9, 2012.

This is a photo of Orville Wright added by Ancient Faces on January 6, 2012.

This is a photo of Orville Wright added by Ancient Faces on January 6, 2012.

This is a photo of Orville Wright Orville Wright flying at Fort Meyer [i.e. Myer], Va. added by Ancient Faces on January 4, 2012.

This is a photo of Orville Wright added by Ancient Faces on January 1, 2012.

Orville, Wilbur, and Katherine Wright, with others

This is a photo of Orville Wright added by Ancient Faces on December 31, 2011.