Alberto Santos-Dumont

Santos-Dumont, Alberto (1873–1932), aviation pioneer in both lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air machines. Born in Brazil of wealthy parents, he was educated in France, where he spent most of his life. His “Demoiselle” (Grasshopper) monoplane was the forerunner of the modern light plane. He was awarded the Deutsch-Archdeacon Prize (1906) for the first observed power flight in Europe. Depressed over the use of aircraft in war, Santos-Dumont took his own life.

See also: Aviation.