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{{Short description|American accountant and journalist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2012}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2012}}
[[Image:PicEddyKite.jpg|right|thumb|William Eddy with kite.]]
[[File:William_Abner_Eddy_(1850-1909).png|thumb|right|William Abner Eddy, circa 1890]]
'''William Abner Eddy''' (January 28, 1850 – December 26,<ref name=genealogy>{{citation|author2=Eddy Family Association|title=The Eddy family in America: a genealogy|location=Boston|publisher=T.O. Metcalf|year=1930|author1-link=Eddy|editor1-first=Ruth Story Devereux}}, via [http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=434&p=surnames.eddy].</ref> 1909) was an American accountant and journalist famous for his photographic and meteorological experiments with [[kite]]s.


⚫
'''William Abner Eddy''' (January 28, 1850 – December 26, 1909) was an American accountant and journalist famous for his photographic and meteorological experiments with [[kite]]s. The scientific significance of Eddy's improvements to kite-flying was short-lived, due to the advent of [[Lawrence Hargrave]]'s rectangular box kites. Nevertheless, in the year following Eddy's death, a train of ten Eddy kites reaching an altitude of {{convert|23385|ft|m}} set a height record for several years.
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William A. Eddy was born to a wealthy family in New York City. His father was a reverend.<ref name=bayonne>{{citation|title=Bayonne Passages|url=http://books.google.com/?id=qXOLu65xXgAC&lpg=PA48&pg=PA48|last=Middleton|first=Kathleen M.|pages=48–49|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=1999|isbn=978-0-7524-0563-6}}.</ref> William's experience with kites started at an early age: When he was 15, he successfully tied a lantern to a hexagonal kite. After graduation from the [[University of Chicago]] he returned to New York, where he would soon work as an accountant for the [[New York Herald]]. In 1887, he married Cynthia S. Huggins (1856–1922<ref name=genealogy/>) and moved to nearby [[Bayonne, New Jersey]], where his cousin already lived.<ref name=bayonne/> Their daughter Margaret was born on January 11, 1888 in New York City.<ref name=genealogy/>


== Biography ==
⚫
It seems that Eddy's interest in kites was renewed when he learned about recent advances. In 1883, [[Douglas Archibald]] used kites to measure differences in wind velocity. Alexander McAdie repeated [[Benjamin Franklin]]'s kite experiments with an electrometer. In 1887, Eddy heard of [[Woodbridge Davis]]' maneuverable kites. Based on accounts of tailless diamond kites common in [[Java]], he tried to fill in the missing details. In standard diamond kites the tail was needed for stabilization, but was problematic when chaining several kites in order to reach higher altitudes. He added a bow in the cross spar and a hole at the crossing of the sticks. In 1893, the [[World's Columbian Exposition]] gave him the chance to acquire an authentic [[Malay kite]], which inspired further improvements and led to what is now known as the diamond Eddy kite.
=== Early years ===
⚫
William A. Eddy was born to a wealthy family in New York City. His father was a Baptist clergyman.<ref name=bayonne>{{citation|title=Bayonne Passages|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qXOLu65xXgAC&pg=PA48|last=Middleton|first=Kathleen M.|pages=48–49|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=1999|isbn=978-0-7524-0563-6}}.</ref> William's experience with kites started at an early age: When he was 15, he successfully tied a lantern to a hexagonal kite. After graduation from the [[University of Chicago]] he returned to New York, where he would soon work as an accountant for the ''[[New York Herald]]''.


=== Kites ===
⚫
He also improved the method for chaining several kites. Previously each kite had been tied to the previous one. Instead, he made the individual kites' lines branch off a common main line.
[[File:PicEddyKite.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.65|William Eddy with Eddy kite. "Of Bayonne, N.J. / The Scientific Kite Flyer."]]
⚫
[[File:US646375.png|left|thumb|upright=0.65|US646375 Willian A. Eddy kite patent image, March 27, 1900]]

⚫
It seems that Eddy's interest in kites was renewed when he learned about recent advances. In 1883, [[Douglas Archibald]] used kites to measure differences in wind velocity. Alexander McAdie repeated [[Benjamin Franklin]]'s kite experiments with an electrometer. In 1887, Eddy heard of [[Woodbridge Davis]]' maneuverable kites. Based on accounts of tailless diamond kites common in [[Java]], he tried to fill in the missing details. In standard diamond kites the tail was needed for stabilization, but was problematic when chaining several kites in order to reach higher altitudes. He added a bow in the cross spar and a hole at the crossing of the sticks.

⚫
In 1893, the [[World's Columbian Exposition]] gave him the chance to acquire an authentic [[Malay kite]], which inspired further improvements and led to what is now known as the diamond Eddy kite. He also improved the method for chaining several kites. Previously each kite had been tied to the previous one. Instead, he made the individual kites' lines branch off a common main line.


Eddy's publication of air temperatures measured with his kites attracted the attention of the [[American Meteorological Society]]. In 1894, he followed an invitation to assist the work of [[Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory]]. He solved the observatory's technical problems, thereby contributing significantly to its reputation.
Eddy's publication of air temperatures measured with his kites attracted the attention of the [[American Meteorological Society]]. In 1894, he followed an invitation to assist the work of [[Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory]]. He solved the observatory's technical problems, thereby contributing significantly to its reputation.


⚫
On May 30, 1895, Eddy took the first aerial photograph in the Americas. This was 37 years after [[Nadar (photographer)|Nadar]]'s first balloon-based photographs and 7 years after [[Arthur Batut]]'s first kite-based photographs. Eddy improved Batut's technique further, and he even experimented with telephony via kites<ref>{{Cite news |title=Messages over kite wires: Telephoning and telegraphing my means of a midair line |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97753968/messages-over-kite-wires/ |date=December 7, 1896 |page=1 |location=Bayonne, New Jersey |access-date=2022-03-16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and with kite-based mirrors.<ref>{{Cite news |title=New phase of kite flying: Inventor Eddy has a machine to reflect surrounding country |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97754206/new-phase-of-kite-flying/ |date=August 30, 1897 |page=8 |access-date=2022-03-16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
⚫
[[File:Margaret Eddy with her father's kites.jpg|thumb|left|Margaret Eddy with kites, c.1895.]]
⚫
On May 30, 1895, Eddy took the first aerial photograph in the Americas. This was 37 years after [[Nadar (photographer)|Nadar]]'s first balloon-based photographs and 7 years after [[Arthur Batut]]'s first kite-based photographs. Eddy improved Batut's technique further, and he even experimented with telephony via kites<ref>{{citation|title=Messages over kite wires: Telephoning and telegraphing my means of a midair line|journal=New York Times|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D03E7DE1039E433A25753C3A96E9C94669ED7CF|date=December 7, 1896|page=1}}.</ref> and with kite-based mirrors.<ref>{{citation|title=New phase of kite flying: Inventor Eddy has a machine to reflect surrounding country|journal=New York Times|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D03E7DE1039E433A25753C3A96E9C94669ED7CF|date=August 30, 1897|page=8}}.</ref>


⚫
The ''[[New York Times]]'' regularly reported on Eddy's curious accidents, plans, and results. For example, in 1897: playing children interfered with his experiments during the night.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kite flyer Eddy worried. Boys tamper with his apparatus in the night |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97754326/kite-flyer-eddy-worried/ |date=April 12, 1897 |page=4 |access-date=2022-03-16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1898, he hoped to assist the navy in the [[Spanish–American War]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Eddy and his kites. The Bayonne expert may go to the front in the government service |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97754437/eddy-and-his-kites/ |date=July 2, 1898 |page=3 |location=Bayonne, New Jersey |access-date=2022-03-16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> On Christmas Day 1900, he found that the wild ducks at the coast were flying at {{convert|47|mph|km/h}} at an altitude of {{convert|1500|ft|m}}.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Speed of wild ducks: Bayonne kite flier finds that they cover more than forty-seven miles an hour |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97754528/speed-of-wild-ducks/ |date=December 26, 1900 |page=2 |location=Bayonne, New Jersey |access-date=2022-03-16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1908, Eddy took kite aerial photographs in order to solve the theft of ice cream from his back porch; one photo showed two men eating the lot.<ref name=bayonne/>
⚫
[[Image:US646375.png‎|right|thumb|US646375 Willian A. Eddy kite patent image.]]
⚫
The ''[[New York Times]]'' regularly reported on Eddy's curious accidents, plans, and results. For example, in 1897: playing children interfered with his experiments during the night.<ref>{{citation|title=Kite flyer Eddy worried. Boys tamper with his apparatus in the night|journal=New York Times|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9801E6DC1230E333A25751C1A9629C94669ED7CF|date=April 12, 1897|page=4}}.</ref> In 1898, he hoped to assist the navy in the [[Spanish–American War]].<ref>{{citation|title=Eddy and his kites. The Bayonne expert may go to the front in the government service|journal=New York Times|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D0DE0D91738E433A25751C0A9619C94699ED7CF|date=July 2, 1898|page=3}}.</ref> On Christmas Day 1900, he found that the wild ducks at the coast were flying at {{convert|47|mph|km/h}} at an altitude of {{convert|1500|ft|m}}.<ref>{{citation|title=Speed of wild ducks: Bayonne kite flier finds that they cover more than forty-seven miles an hour|journal=New York Times|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E0DE4D8133EE333A25755C2A9649D946197D6CF|date=December 26, 1900|page=2}}.</ref> In 1908, Eddy took kite aerial photographs in order to solve the theft of ice cream from his back porch; one photo showed two men eating the loot.<ref name=bayonne/>


== Personal life ==
⚫
The scientific significance of Eddy's improvements to kite-flying was short-lived, due to the advent of [[Lawrence Hargrave]]'s rectangular box kites. Nevertheless, in the year following Eddy's death, a train of ten Eddy kites reaching an altitude of {{convert|23385|ft|m}} set a height record for several years.
⚫
[[File:Margaret Eddy with her father's kites.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.65|Margaret Eddy with kites, c. 1895]]


In 1887, he married Cynthia S. Huggins (1856–1922<ref name=genealogy/>) and moved to nearby [[Bayonne, New Jersey]], where his cousin already lived.<ref name=bayonne/> Their daughter Margaret was born on January 11, 1888, in New York City.{{Efn|Margaret married the naturalist [[Guy Fleming]] in 1927.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brewer|first1=Diane|title=Kids and Parents Vie in Original Designs|work=San Diego Union|date=April 1, 1970|page=14}}</ref>}}<ref name=genealogy/>
==Notes and references==
⚫
{{reflist|2}}


William Abner Eddy died in Bayonne on December 26, 1909.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97753462/william-abner-eddy-kite-expert-dead/ |title=William Abner Eddy, Kite Expert, Dead |newspaper=[[Brooklyn Standard Union]] |page=11 |date=1909-12-27 |access-date=2022-03-16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=genealogy>{{cite book|last1=Eddy Family Association|editor1-last=Devereux|editor1-first=Ruth Story|title=The Eddy family in America: a genealogy|date=1930|publisher=T.O. Metcalf|location=Boston, Mass.|url=http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062883178;view=1up;seq=17}}</ref>
==Further reading==
{{clr}}
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{{Wikisource author}}

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{{Commons category inline|bullet=none|William Abner Eddy}}
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
⚫
{{reflist}}


Except where noted otherwise, all information comes from the following article:
Except where noted otherwise, all information comes from the following article:
*White, Bob (2005), [http://best-breezes.squarespace.com/william-abner-eddy/ ''Diamonds in the Sky: The Contributions of William Abner Eddy to Kiting''.]
* White, Bob (2005), [http://best-breezes.squarespace.com/william-abner-eddy/ ''Diamonds in the Sky: The Contributions of William Abner Eddy to Kiting''.]

== External links ==
⚫
{{Wikisource author}}
⚫
{{Commons category-inline|bullet=none|William Abner Eddy}}

{{Kites}}

{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Eddy, William Abner
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = January 28, 1850
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = December 26, 1909
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eddy, William Abner}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eddy, William Abner}}
[[Category:Aviation pioneers]]
[[Category:American aviation pioneers]]
[[Category:1850 births]]
[[Category:1850 births]]
[[Category:1909 deaths]]
[[Category:1909 deaths]]
[[Category:People from New York City]]
[[Category:Journalists from New York City]]
[[Category:University of Chicago alumni]]
[[Category:University of Chicago alumni]]
[[Category:Article Feedback 5]]
[[Category:American kite fliers]]

[[cs:William Abner Eddy]]
[[fr:William Abner Eddy]]

Latest revision as of 04:23, 12 April 2024

William Abner Eddy, circa 1890

William Abner Eddy (January 28, 1850 – December 26, 1909) was an American accountant and journalist famous for his photographic and meteorological experiments with kites. The scientific significance of Eddy's improvements to kite-flying was short-lived, due to the advent of Lawrence Hargrave's rectangular box kites. Nevertheless, in the year following Eddy's death, a train of ten Eddy kites reaching an altitude of 23,385 feet (7,128 m) set a height record for several years.

Biography[edit]

Early years[edit]

William A. Eddy was born to a wealthy family in New York City. His father was a Baptist clergyman.[1] William's experience with kites started at an early age: When he was 15, he successfully tied a lantern to a hexagonal kite. After graduation from the University of Chicago he returned to New York, where he would soon work as an accountant for the New York Herald.

Kites[edit]

William Eddy with Eddy kite. "Of Bayonne, N.J. / The Scientific Kite Flyer."
US646375 Willian A. Eddy kite patent image, March 27, 1900

It seems that Eddy's interest in kites was renewed when he learned about recent advances. In 1883, Douglas Archibald used kites to measure differences in wind velocity. Alexander McAdie repeated Benjamin Franklin's kite experiments with an electrometer. In 1887, Eddy heard of Woodbridge Davis' maneuverable kites. Based on accounts of tailless diamond kites common in Java, he tried to fill in the missing details. In standard diamond kites the tail was needed for stabilization, but was problematic when chaining several kites in order to reach higher altitudes. He added a bow in the cross spar and a hole at the crossing of the sticks.

In 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition gave him the chance to acquire an authentic Malay kite, which inspired further improvements and led to what is now known as the diamond Eddy kite. He also improved the method for chaining several kites. Previously each kite had been tied to the previous one. Instead, he made the individual kites' lines branch off a common main line.

Eddy's publication of air temperatures measured with his kites attracted the attention of the American Meteorological Society. In 1894, he followed an invitation to assist the work of Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory. He solved the observatory's technical problems, thereby contributing significantly to its reputation.

On May 30, 1895, Eddy took the first aerial photograph in the Americas. This was 37 years after Nadar's first balloon-based photographs and 7 years after Arthur Batut's first kite-based photographs. Eddy improved Batut's technique further, and he even experimented with telephony via kites[2] and with kite-based mirrors.[3]

The New York Times regularly reported on Eddy's curious accidents, plans, and results. For example, in 1897: playing children interfered with his experiments during the night.[4] In 1898, he hoped to assist the navy in the Spanish–American War.[5] On Christmas Day 1900, he found that the wild ducks at the coast were flying at 47 miles per hour (76 km/h) at an altitude of 1,500 feet (460 m).[6] In 1908, Eddy took kite aerial photographs in order to solve the theft of ice cream from his back porch; one photo showed two men eating the lot.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Margaret Eddy with kites, c. 1895

In 1887, he married Cynthia S. Huggins (1856–1922[7]) and moved to nearby Bayonne, New Jersey, where his cousin already lived.[1] Their daughter Margaret was born on January 11, 1888, in New York City.[a][7]

William Abner Eddy died in Bayonne on December 26, 1909.[9][7]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Margaret married the naturalist Guy Fleming in 1927.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Middleton, Kathleen M. (1999), Bayonne Passages, Arcadia Publishing, pp. 48–49, ISBN 978-0-7524-0563-6.
  2. ^ "Messages over kite wires: Telephoning and telegraphing my means of a midair line". The New York Times. Bayonne, New Jersey. December 7, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved March 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "New phase of kite flying: Inventor Eddy has a machine to reflect surrounding country". The New York Times. August 30, 1897. p. 8. Retrieved March 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Kite flyer Eddy worried. Boys tamper with his apparatus in the night". The New York Times. April 12, 1897. p. 4. Retrieved March 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Eddy and his kites. The Bayonne expert may go to the front in the government service". The New York Times. Bayonne, New Jersey. July 2, 1898. p. 3. Retrieved March 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Speed of wild ducks: Bayonne kite flier finds that they cover more than forty-seven miles an hour". The New York Times. Bayonne, New Jersey. December 26, 1900. p. 2. Retrieved March 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c Eddy Family Association (1930). Devereux, Ruth Story (ed.). The Eddy family in America: a genealogy. Boston, Mass.: T.O. Metcalf.
  8. ^ Brewer, Diane (April 1, 1970). "Kids and Parents Vie in Original Designs". San Diego Union. p. 14.
  9. ^ "William Abner Eddy, Kite Expert, Dead". Brooklyn Standard Union. December 27, 1909. p. 11. Retrieved March 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

Except where noted otherwise, all information comes from the following article:

External links[edit]

Wikisource has original works by or about:
William Abner Eddy

Media related to William Abner Eddy at Wikimedia Commons

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