1875-1912

American Pilot and Journalist

The first female pilot to be licensed in the United States, Harriet Quimby broke aviation gender barriers. She was also the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel. Quimby's flair for publicity resulted in more people becoming aware of aviation and its potential to improve transportation. Her beauty and sense of mystery added to the allure of her pioneering aviation efforts. Quimby's accomplishments enhanced the accessibility of technology to more people and established a foundation for future aviatrixes.

Born on May 11, 1875, near Coldwater, Michigan, Quimby was the daughter of William and Ursula Quimby. The absence of legal records, however, has resulted in a dispute over the facts concerning the date and place of her birth. The 1880 Michigan census included five-year-old Harriet in the Quimby household, living on a farm near Arcadia. The family moved to San Francisco, California, in...