Inventors Killed by their own Inventions
Words: Violet
Invention does not happen overnight, it requires a lot of time, attempts, innovation, failures and luck. Certain inventors become famous for their creations, going down in history as a name that everyone associates with their product. Unfortunately, most inventors aren’t remembered unless come across in an old history book. However, the most ill fated of all the inventors are the ones who have been killed by their own inventions. We recount some of the best through history., Thomas Andrews – RMS Titanic
, Thomas Andrews was the naval architect of the RMS Titantic who famously died on 14th April 1912 when the “unsinkable” ship sank on its maiden voyage from Southhampton to New York.
Franz Reichelt – Wearable Parachute
, This Austrian-French tailor died in 1912 when he jumped off the Eiffel Tower testing his wearable parachute for pilots that he had invented. He decided to test the suit for himself when he found success with the test dummies used in previous trials but unfortunately perished as soon as he hit the ground after the 57m jump.
William Bullock – American Printing Inventor
, Bullock was instrumental in the development of modern printing and web rotary printing press. He was killed him a freak accident in 1867 when his leg got caught in the machine. He died nine days later during the amputating operation because of infection with gangrene.
Sylvester H. Roper – Roper Steam Velocipede
, Sylvester was a pioneer in automobile invention, builder of both the first motorcycle, the Roper Steam Velocipede (1867-1869), and the of one of the earliest automobiles, the steam carriage (1863). He died of a heart failure after he fell onto the track on June 1st 1896.
Henry Fleuss – Oxygen Diving Rebreather
, Henry Fleuss met his watery demise in 1932 when he tested his own invention during a dive. The pure oxygen used in the rebreather was fatal.
Jean-Francois Roziere -Pioneer of Aviation
, Roziere represents the very first documented fatality in aviation history when he crashed and died during his attempt to cross the English Channel in his balloon. Before that, he had been the first man (along with Marquis d’Arlandes) to complete a manned free balloon flight.
Henry Smolinski – Flying Car
, Smolinski died in 1973 in their prototype, named the AVE Mizar, a flying car combining the Ford Pinto with the rear of a Cessna. On their first and only flight, the wings fell off killing him and his partner Hal Blake.
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