Thaddeus S. C. Lowe

Biography

Thaddeus S. C. Lowe, born in 1832, became one of the nation's earliest aeronauts, launching hydrogen balloons that captured the public imagination and directing the Union Army Balloon Corps during the Civil War, where his aerial reconnaissance and telegraphic communication from aloft proved invaluable. He devoted himself to explaining the science behind each ascent, winning support for new methods of mapping and observation from the ground.

After the war he remained an energetic advocate for aerial navigation, promoting telegraphic links for balloon crews, proposing transcontinental air routes, and sharing the wonders of the skies with engineers and the wider public; his fearless curiosity helped others believe in the future of flight. He rests at Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum, remembered as a visionary whose experiments paved the way for modern aviation.