Charles Frederick Page | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 1864 Louisiana, US |
| Died | November 18, 1937 (aged 72–73) |
| Occupation(s) | Timber contractor and inventor |
Charles Frederick Page (c. 1864 - November 18, 1937) was a timber contractor who designed and built a full-scale model of an airship.
Page was born into slavery in c. 1864, [1] in Rapides Parish or Caddo Parish Louisiana. [2] and he taught himself to read and write. [3]
Page was described as a deep thinker who both thought about many subjects but also attempted to execute many of his ideas. [4] His daughter stated that he was inspired by a "mosquito hawk" in the 1890s to build his own airship. [3] He designed his airship and filed a patent for it, which was registered as United States patent US817442A dated April 24, 1903. [5]
Page constructed a full-scale model of his design which he shipped to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 for display and as a competition entry, but the airship was stolen in transit and never recovered. [3] This discouraged him and he did not continue to work on his idea. [3] He was granted his patent his airship April 10, 1906 [5] just beating the Wright Brothers patent that was granted May 22, 1906. [6] Both had filed patents in 1903 with the Wright Brothers being the first by a few weeks. [5] [6] (The Wright Brothers' patent was for the design of the first airplane, whereas Charles Page's patent was for a type of airship. Airships - flying vehicles suspended by balloons - had already been invented long before.)
Page worked as a contractor for the timber industry sourcing timber for specific requirements of other industries including railroad ties, telegraph poles and bridge beams. [3] He also set up a small cabinet making business. [3]
He helped to clear the ground of tree stumps for the Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville, Louisiana, then assisted the superintendent with landscaping. [3] Inspired by this he then worked to setup the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery also in Pineville and where he was buried. [3]
Page died November 18, 1937, at his home in Alexandria, Louisiana. [4] He had married Ida A. Kelso in 1858 and they had eleven children. [4]
The Smithsonian had an exhibit on Page in the 1990s. [7]
A historical marker in his honor was unveiled in Pineville in 2024, the city where Page lived and made his invention. [8] Two models were also produced for display in the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. [8] [9]
In 2024 the Louisiana State Museum hosted a display for Pages "tumultuous and trailblazing aviation journey" at its Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum branch. [10]
