Samuel Pierpont Langley is an amazing part of aviation history, isn’t he? What….. you don’t remember him. Well, his life teaches us a lesson for that very reason!
In the late 1800′s, Langley was known as one of America’s most accomplished Scientists. He began his career as a civil engineer. He later taught mathematics at the US Naval Academy. He even was appointed as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute. So, I’m not trying to downplay his mind or accomplishments. But, I am fascinated with another facet of his life…. the day he gave up on his goal.
While serving at the Smithsonian, Langley was contacted by the US War Department to commence working on “a flying machine” that would allow human beings to fly.
Langley was initially funded with 50K from the government and 20K from the Smithsonian; an enormous grant in pre-1900 days, to develop a piloted airplane. Pierpont was extremely well connected, including President McKinley, and had access to more funds and the greatest minds. He even had a tremendous PR machine falling him, which included the NY Times writing multiple articles on his progress.
At the same time, a few hundred miles away. Orville and Wilber Wright were at work in Dayton, Ohio. They had an idea about how to fly and decided to use their minimal proceeds generated from their bicycle shop to fund their pursuit. Neither of the brothers had a college education and no one was following them to “trumpet” their accomplishments.
The Wright brothers and their team, headed to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. There, they faced the rough winds as they attempted to get their heavier-than-air machine in flight. History tells us that each morning, they would take 5 sets of each part with them, because of their repeated failures each day.
Samuel Pierpont Langley reportedly was working in the calm winds over the Potomac River. There from a houseboat, he launched four flying attempts between 1891-1895. Half of his funding had gone toward the purchase and construction of the houseboat, which was equipped with a catapult that was to be used to launch the flying machine into flight.
At the time, Langley was good friends with Alexander Graham Bell and had seen the fortune and fame that had been brought to Bell, from his invention of the telephone. Langley knew that fame and fortune was within his grasp.
As time passed, pressure began to mount on Langley. With all eyes on him including the constant newspaper coverage, Congress began questioning the lack of progress. The “Brooklyn Eagle” quoted Representative Hitchcock as saying, “You tell Langley for me that the only thing he ever made fly was Government money”.
On December 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers were successful in getting their manned plane to fly. No one was there to publicize it. The public did not even know about it until later.
When Langley heard of the accomplishment, he didn’t decide to improve on the accomplishment. He made no effort to work with the Wright brothers. History doesn’t even record that he congratulated them. Instead, he quit. The Wright Brothers, without an attempt at anything but getting a plane in the air, had met their goal. Without being “first”, Langley was done. No fame. No fortune to be had.
Sometime later, one Washington Lady reportedly attempted to converse with Langley about his experience in flying. He continually refused to talk about it. Finally, while losing her patience because of her inability to get a response, she asked Langley what it was that he did enjoy talking about. He finally replied, “Children and Fairy Stories”.
In 1906, Langley died as a bitter man. He couldn’t be first so he just focused on the “couldn’t”. When you saw his name at the top of the blog, you probably had never even heard of him.
I am challenged by the Wright brothers. They didn’t need the NY Times to follow them around, because they weren’t working for fame or fortune. Their goal was to overcome many failures and get their plane in the air. It is a story of success based on the very fiber of the human spirit.
I look at this story, a tale of two endings, and know that it should be a challenge to me, in the field of law. Big Business may have the odds stacked in their favor. But, they don’t have the drive of the human spirit; the difference- maker in the David versus Goliath in holding wrongdoers accountable.
Pic O’ Day reminds us all to keep on trying:
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