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Wilbur Wright's Life As A Social Activist

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Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867 near Millville, Indiana. Orville Wright was born August 19, 1871 in the family home at 7 Hawthorn Street in Dayton, Ohio. Their father was Milton Wright (1829-1917), a minister in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and editor of its weekly newspaper. Their mother, Susan Catherine Koerner Wright (1831-1889), liked to make mechanical appliances and toys.

Wilbur and Orville had two older siblings, Reuchlin Wright (1861 - 1920) and Lorin Wright (1862 - 1939). Their parents also had a set of twins, Otis Wright and Ida Wright, who were born and died in 1870. Their youngest sister was Katharine Wright (1874 – 1929).

Milton Wright’s job frequently required the family to move, although the house …show more content…
He, too, was a good student but didn’t complete the requirements to get his high school diploma. Despite this, the brothers were encouraged by their parents to be learners. According to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Orville wrote “We were lucky enough to grow up in an environment where there was always much encouragement to children to pursue intellectual interests; to investigate whatever aroused curiosity.”

Athletic Wilbur suffered a setback when he was 19. During an ice hockey game, he was struck in the face. His injuries healed, but heart and digestive problems arose, along with depression. Wilbur had been preparing to attend Yale, but gave up on that after the accident. Instead, he stayed home and cared for his mother, who died of tuberculosis when Wilbur was 22 and Orville was 17.

As the Wright brothers were stepping into adulthood, the city of Dayton was becoming an industrial center. Their father’s experience in the newspaper business inspired them to launch a printing business. Together, the brothers tinkered with the printing press and, in 1888, designed a larger and more efficient model. In 1892, Wilbur and Orville formed the Wright Cycle Company to lease and fix bicycles. A few years later they began manufacturing

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