ROBERT DE LESSEPS 1882-1916

Robert de Lesseps from the original Post Card Collection of Jean-Pierre Lauwers

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES via email from fr Alberto Saguier Fonrouge, OP, 3-27-05 Bonjour M. Cooper He visto que Ud. busca informacion sobre ROBERT DE LESSEPS. Nacio en Paris 23.05.1882, y fallecio en 1916. Era hijo del celebre Ferdind de LESSEPS (Versalles1805-chateau La Chesnaye 1894), el constructor del Canal de Suez, y de su segunda esposa, Louise Helene AUTARD DE BRAGARD. Contrajo matrimonio el 27.02.1902 (Belgica) con Marthe Sophie ALLAND, padres de: a) Nicole de Lesseps, b) Robert de Lesseps, casado con la dama argentina Beatriz DUGGAN, con sucesion. Robert de Lesseps tuvo otros hermanos tambien pioneros de aviacion: Jacques de Lesseps (fallecido en un accidente aereo en Canada 1927), Betrand de Lesseps, y Paul de Lesseps. Espero que sea de su interes. Saludos desde Argentina fr Alberto Saguier Fonrouge, OP English Version Bonjour M. Cooper:      I have seen that You look for information on ROBERT de LESSEPS.       He was born in Paris on May 23,1882, and died in 1916. He was the son of the celebrated Ferdinand de LESSEPS (Versalles1805-chateau Chesnaye 1894), the builder of the Suez Canal, and his second wife, Louise Helene AUTARD OF BRAGARD.      On February 27, 1902, he married Marthe Sophie ALLAND in Belguum. They were the parents of Nicole de Lesseps and Robert de Lesseps. (Jr.) He married an Argentine lady, Beatriz DUGGAN.      Robert de Lesseps also had brothers who were pioneer aviators: Jacques de Lesseps (passed away in a plane crash in Canada, 1927), Betrand de Lesseps, and Paul de Lesseps. I hope that this may be of interest to you. Greetings from Argentina fr Alberto Saguier Fonrouge, OP

 

Robert de Lesseps Piloting the Le Fregate Biplane from the original Post Card Collection of Jean-Pierre Lauwers

 

ONLINE RESOURCES - 1      If you search on "Robert de Lesseps +avation" using Google, (11-17-07), you will find about six links.. I was alerted to the one cited first below by our friend Owen Beith of London. It is a very important source and a good place to start your search for more information.

 

The Mystery of the French Count      This page on The East London Forum webpage, which was written by "ladyDeWint," offers a very complete and fascinating revue of his life and career. It is illustrated with several very nice photographs, including one of the monument on which his name tops the list of 15 men who were lost in WW l. The monument is located on the site of the old Crocketts' Leather-cloth factory, which was demolished in the 1960's. Her article is followed by another which lists all of the men whose names are inscribed on the monument. You can access the site by clicking on the title.

 

RECOMMENDED READING

CONTACT The Story of the Early Birds Man's first decade of flight from Kitty Hawk to World War I Henry Serrano Villard Foreward by S. PAUL JOHNSTON Director, National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Institution      In today's age of space probes and moon rockets, it is hard to believe that the aeroplane is scarcely sixty years old. Here Henry Serrano Villard, who knew many of the pioneer pilots and flew in their "bits of stick and string,"re-creates the romantic era when man first dared the miracle of flight. His anecdotal account, illustrated with 125 photographs--many from his personal album--covers the decade and a half of aeronautical history from the Wright brothers' exploits at Kitty Hawk to the outbreak of World War I.      "It was inevitable that some constructors should copy the graceful arched wings of a bird in flight--in fixed, not flexible, form. Such a type was seen on the Franz Miller monoplane--the first machine to be built in Italy--which flew, after a fashion, in 1908 and 1909. The frigate bird was the model for a French tractor monoplane with unmistakeable Blériot characteristics, powered by a three-cylinder 30--hp Anzani motor. named, naturally enough, La Frégate, it was tested at Issy by Robert de Lesseps."/I> from page 210 Editor's Note:      I had the pleasure of knowing Henry for several years before his death. I found him to be a delightful companion and a remarkable source of information on the entire field of aviation. I can recommend his book, without hesitation, as an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of early aviation..

 

Robert de Lesseps died in 1916

 

Editor's Note: If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper

 

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