William Samuel Henson (3 May 1812 – 22 March 1888) was a British-born pre-Wright brothers aviation pioneer, engineer and inventor. He is best known for his work on the aerial steam carriage alongside John Stringfellow.
Henson was born in Nottingham, England on 3 May 1812.[1][2] Henson was involved in lace-making in Chard[3] and he obtained a patent on improved lace-making machines in 1835. Henson is best known as an early pioneer in aviation, but patented many other inventions, some of which are in wide use today.[4]
In 1849 William Henson and his wife, Sarah, left England and moved to the United States, joining his father and settling in Newark, New Jersey. Henson never did any further aviation research while in the United States and worked as a machinist, civil engineer and inventor.[5][6] He had 7 children, only 4 of whom lived to adulthood.
Henson remained in the United States for the remainder of his life, except for a short period between 1864–1866 when he lived in Peru.[7] died on 22 March 1888 in Newark, New Jersey. He and most of his family were buried in Rosedale Cemetery in Orange, New Jersey.
Aeronautical inventions
Starting c. 1838, Henson became interested in aviation. In April 1841 he patented an improved lightweight steam engine, and with fellow lacemaking-engineer John Stringfellow in c. 1842 he designed a large passenger-carrying steam-powered monoplane, with a wing span of 150 feet, which he named the "Henson Aerial Steam Carriage". He received a patent on it in 1843 along with Stringfellow.
1843 engraving of the Aerial Steam Carriage
Henson, Stringfellow, Frederick Marriott, and D.E. Colombine, incorporated as the Aerial Transit Company in 1843 in England, with the intention of raising money to construct the flying machine. Henson built a scale model of his design, which made one tentative steam-powered "hop" as it lifted, or bounced, off its guide wire. Attempts were made to fly the small model, and a larger model with a 20-foot wing span, between 1844 and 1847, without success.
Henson grew discouraged, married and emigrated in 1849 to the United States, while Stringfellow continued to experiment with aviation.
Henson and Stringfellow are frequently mentioned in books on the history of aviation.[9] The Royal Aeronautical Society holds annual "Henson-Stringfellow" lectures; as of 2008 they have held 52. A glacier in Antarctica is named after him due to his work in aviation (Henson Glacier: 64'06'S, 60'11'W[10]).
The Aerial's wings were rectangular, and were formed by wooden spars covered with fabric, and braced, internally and externally, with wires. The Aerial Steam Carriage was to be powered by two contra-rotating six-bladed propellers mounted in the rear in a push-type system. The design follows earlier "birdlike" gliders, and the ideas of George Cayley, and Henson corresponded with Cayley in an attempt to obtain funding after the efforts to obtain the support of Parliament and sell stock failed.[11] The Aerial Transit Company never built the largest version of the Aerial Steam Carriage because of the failed attempts with the medium-sized model. Henson, Stringfellow, Marriott and Colombine dissolved the company around 1848.
Advertising
The Aerial Transit Company's publicist, Frederick Marriott, commissioned prints in 1843 depicting the Aerial Steam Carriage over the pyramids of Egypt, in India, and over London, England, and other places, which drew considerable interest from the public. The prints have appeared on several stamps of various countries. Marriott later became an aviation pioneer in California.
Other inventions and innovations
Henson obtained a number of patents in widely varying areas. Major patents include:
Henson invented the modern form of the razor, the 'T' shaped safety razor, and patented it in 1847: "the cutting blade of which is at right angles with the handle, and resembles somewhat the form of a common hoe."[12] While a major improvement on the previous form of safety razor, an additional improvement was needed to make safety razors common. In 1901, Gillette combined Henson's T-shaped safety razor with disposable blades, and produced the modern razor.[13]
Henson published a pamphlet on astronomy in 1871 suggesting that the Solar System formed from cold dust and gas, and discussed how it could condense into meteors and comets, and further condense into planets, moons and the Sun, in the process heating up. He also discusses how this would lead to the planets orbiting in the ecliptic and rotating in the same general plane.[14]
1835 UK Patent #4405 on ornamental lace-making improvements ("William Henson of Chard, machinist" - could be William Samuel Henson's father, who was also an inventor)
1840 UK Patent #6207 on making fabrics ("William Henson of Lambeth, engineer")
1841, 1842, 1843 UK Patents on lightweight steam engine and flying machine[17] (#unknown and #9478) ("William S. Henson of Lambeth, engineer")
^Henson's personal journal, from Henson & Stringfellow, Aeronautical Pioneers, published 1943(?) Original preserved at the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences in the US
^FreeReg, transcription of baptism record Some sources incorrectly say 1805
^"William Samuel Henson". Royal Aeronautical Society. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
^Waits, Robert K. (2014). A Safety Razor Compendium: The Book. Lulu. p. 143. ISBN9781312293533.
^Henson family documents in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum archives and the Library of Congress AIAA collection
^"Patents for inventions. Abridgments of specifications", Patent office, London, 1869
^"Journal of the Franklin Institute", Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA 1852
^"Report of the Commissioner of Patents, Volume 1", US Patent Office, 1863
^Harald Penrose, An Ancient Air: A Biography of John Stringfellow of Chard, The Victorian Aeronautical Pioneer (Shrewsbury, England: Airlife Publishing, Ltd., 1988), 183p., illus. ISBN1-85310-047-1
^"Commissioner of Patents Annual Report for the Year 1870", Washington, US Printing Office, 1872
william, samuel, henson, 1812, march, 1888, british, born, wright, brothers, aviation, pioneer, engineer, inventor, best, known, work, aerial, steam, carriage, alongside, john, stringfellow, born, 1812, 1812nottingham, englanddied22, march, 1888, 1888, aged, n. William Samuel Henson 3 May 1812 22 March 1888 was a British born pre Wright brothers aviation pioneer engineer and inventor He is best known for his work on the aerial steam carriage alongside John Stringfellow William Samuel HensonBorn 1812 05 03 3 May 1812Nottingham EnglandDied22 March 1888 1888 03 22 aged 75 Newark New JerseyKnown forAerial Steam CarriageSpouseSarah Henson m 1848 wbr Children7 Contents 1 Biography 2 Aeronautical inventions 2 1 Aerial Design 2 2 Advertising 3 Other inventions and innovations 4 The Henson Aerial Steam Carriage 5 Timeline 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksBiography EditHenson was born in Nottingham England on 3 May 1812 1 2 Henson was involved in lace making in Chard 3 and he obtained a patent on improved lace making machines in 1835 Henson is best known as an early pioneer in aviation but patented many other inventions some of which are in wide use today 4 In 1849 William Henson and his wife Sarah left England and moved to the United States joining his father and settling in Newark New Jersey Henson never did any further aviation research while in the United States and worked as a machinist civil engineer and inventor 5 6 He had 7 children only 4 of whom lived to adulthood Henson remained in the United States for the remainder of his life except for a short period between 1864 1866 when he lived in Peru 7 died on 22 March 1888 in Newark New Jersey He and most of his family were buried in Rosedale Cemetery in Orange New Jersey Aeronautical inventions EditStarting c 1838 Henson became interested in aviation In April 1841 he patented an improved lightweight steam engine and with fellow lacemaking engineer John Stringfellow in c 1842 he designed a large passenger carrying steam powered monoplane with a wing span of 150 feet which he named the Henson Aerial Steam Carriage He received a patent on it in 1843 along with Stringfellow 1843 engraving of the Aerial Steam Carriage Henson Stringfellow Frederick Marriott and D E Colombine incorporated as the Aerial Transit Company in 1843 in England with the intention of raising money to construct the flying machine Henson built a scale model of his design which made one tentative steam powered hop as it lifted or bounced off its guide wire Attempts were made to fly the small model and a larger model with a 20 foot wing span between 1844 and 1847 without success Henson grew discouraged married and emigrated in 1849 to the United States while Stringfellow continued to experiment with aviation Henson appeared as a character in a fictional newspaper story by Edgar Allan Poe which recounted a supposed trans Atlantic balloon trip in which Henson was one of the passengers on the balloon 8 Henson and Stringfellow are frequently mentioned in books on the history of aviation 9 The Royal Aeronautical Society holds annual Henson Stringfellow lectures as of 2008 they have held 52 A glacier in Antarctica is named after him due to his work in aviation Henson Glacier 64 06 S 60 11 W 10 Henson and Stringfellow were referred to in the 1965 film The Flight of the Phoenix Aerial Design Edit The Aerial s wings were rectangular and were formed by wooden spars covered with fabric and braced internally and externally with wires The Aerial Steam Carriage was to be powered by two contra rotating six bladed propellers mounted in the rear in a push type system The design follows earlier birdlike gliders and the ideas of George Cayley and Henson corresponded with Cayley in an attempt to obtain funding after the efforts to obtain the support of Parliament and sell stock failed 11 The Aerial Transit Company never built the largest version of the Aerial Steam Carriage because of the failed attempts with the medium sized model Henson Stringfellow Marriott and Colombine dissolved the company around 1848 Advertising Edit The Aerial Transit Company s publicist Frederick Marriott commissioned prints in 1843 depicting the Aerial Steam Carriage over the pyramids of Egypt in India and over London England and other places which drew considerable interest from the public The prints have appeared on several stamps of various countries Marriott later became an aviation pioneer in California Other inventions and innovations EditHenson obtained a number of patents in widely varying areas Major patents include Lace making decoration 1835 Lightweight steam engines 1841 Flying machine 1843 T handled safety razor 1847Henson invented the modern form of the razor the T shaped safety razor and patented it in 1847 the cutting blade of which is at right angles with the handle and resembles somewhat the form of a common hoe 12 While a major improvement on the previous form of safety razor an additional improvement was needed to make safety razors common In 1901 Gillette combined Henson s T shaped safety razor with disposable blades and produced the modern razor 13 Henson published a pamphlet on astronomy in 1871 suggesting that the Solar System formed from cold dust and gas and discussed how it could condense into meteors and comets and further condense into planets moons and the Sun in the process heating up He also discusses how this would lead to the planets orbiting in the ecliptic and rotating in the same general plane 14 Henson created inventions in other areas as well Among them were ice making machines 1870 fabric waterproofing and cistern cleaning 15 He patented and submitted a proposal for an improved low recoil breech loading cannon design to the US Navy in 1861 it was rejected as impractical 16 The Henson Aerial Steam Carriage EditMain article Aerial Steam Carriage Small model wingspan unknown Medium model wingspan 20 feet Full size aircraft wingspan 150 feet never built Timeline Edit3 May 1812 Birth in Nottingham England 1835 UK Patent 4405 on ornamental lace making improvements William Henson of Chard machinist could be William Samuel Henson s father who was also an inventor 1840 UK Patent 6207 on making fabrics William Henson of Lambeth engineer 1841 1842 1843 UK Patents on lightweight steam engine and flying machine 17 unknown and 9478 William S Henson of Lambeth engineer 17 July 1847 Patent on the T handled safety razor 1849 Emigration to the United States 1850 US Census in Newark New Jersey as machinist 2 March 1852 US Patent on improvement to knitting looms 18 5 November 1861 US Patent 33646 for Improvement in Breech loading Ordinance 19 13 October 1868 US Patent 83060 for an improvement to a steam engine governor circa 1869 1870 working in Peru in the mining industry 20 26 January 1869 US Patent 86264 for improvements to centrifugal screw pumps 1870 US Census in Newark New Jersey as civil engineer US patent 108816 on ice making machine 21 1871 Publication of book on Astronomy listed as a Master in the Newark Masons lodge 14 July 1874 US Patent 152914 for ice making improvements 15 May 1883 US Patent 277486 for cleaning cisterns 1888 Death in Newark New JerseySee also EditAdelaide Gallery George Cayley aviation pioneer John Chapman engineerReferences Edit Henson s personal journal from Henson amp Stringfellow Aeronautical Pioneers published 1943 Original preserved at the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences in the US FreeReg transcription of baptism record Some sources incorrectly say 1805 William Samuel Henson Royal Aeronautical Society Retrieved 27 October 2015 Waits Robert K 2014 A Safety Razor Compendium The Book Lulu p 143 ISBN 9781312293533 US Census records Aeronautics Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society issue circa 1950 Royal Aeronautical Society Heritage William Samuel Henson Edgar Allan Poe Balloon Hoax New York Sun 1844 Google book search for William Samuel Henson Henson Glacier Henson and StringFellow M J B Davy 1931 Origins of the Safety Razor The Origins of Everyday Things book The Medical Eclectic 1874 issue book review of The Great Facts of Modern Astronomy Fly South Aviation History Archived 2008 01 18 at the Wayback Machine Henson family documents in the Smithsonian Air amp Space Museum archives and the Library of Congress AIAA collection Patents for inventions Abridgments of specifications Patent office London 1869 Journal of the Franklin Institute Franklin Institute Philadelphia PA 1852 Report of the Commissioner of Patents Volume 1 US Patent Office 1863 Harald Penrose An Ancient Air A Biography of John Stringfellow of Chard The Victorian Aeronautical Pioneer Shrewsbury England Airlife Publishing Ltd 1988 183p illus ISBN 1 85310 047 1 Commissioner of Patents Annual Report for the Year 1870 Washington US Printing Office 1872External links EditWorks by William Samuel Henson at Open Library Chard Museum BBC William Henson Flying Machines William Henson Hargrave William Henson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Samuel Henson amp oldid 1083664455, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
