Samuel Franklin Cody

The American Samuel Franklin Cody was a pioneer of early aviation. As a boy he was born and raised in Texas. He spent his youth living the life of the cowboy, catching and training wild horses and buffalo hunting.

After spending some time gold prospecting and touring with a Wild West Show he decided to settle in England in 1890.

Samuel Cody is not to be confused with William Frederick Cody (1846-1917) , known as Buffalo Bill, born in Iowa. This Cody was an Army scout and pony express rider, he earned his nickname after killing 5000 buffalo in 18 months for a contract to supply the workers on the Kansas Pacific Railway with meat. From 1883 he toured with his Wild West Show.



Samuel Cody continued with his Wild West showmanship and toured the music halls of England performing his horse riding, lassoing and shooting skills but his real passion was flight and in particular kites. Cody's interests in kites began as a hobby but very soon Cody had designed, made and patented a man-lifting kite, which he demonstrated to the War office in 1901.