May Assheton Harbord

May Constance Assheton Harbord (c. 1866 - 7 February 1928), was the first woman to obtain an Aeronaut's Certificate in the United Kingdom, in 1912.[1][2]

May Assheton Harbord

Hon.
C.S. Rolls and Hon. Mrs Assheton Harbord
Born
May Constance Cuningham

c. 1866
Died7 February 1928 (aged c. 61)
Notable work
Flying

Biography

May Constance Cuningham was the daughter of James Macnab Cuningham and his wife Mary Falconer McRae. Her father was Surgeon General in the Indian Medical Service.[3] She married the Melbourne based Arthur Blackwood in 1885 though he left her a widow. She went on to marry Hon. Assheton Edward Harbord, son of Charles Harbord, 5th Baron Suffield on 3 April 1905.[4][5]

Assheton Harbord made her name as a balloonist and aeronaut after a social trip in a balloon in May 1906. She went on to become a regular adventurer in balloons, crossing the English Channel repeatedly. One trip ended with her being thrown out of the balloon on landing due to rough weather, following which she declared that "I can claim, therefore to be the only woman who has landed on the Continent on her head."[6] She became very well known for her exploits. Assheton Harbord flew regularly and owned two balloons which she kept near Battersea gas works.[7][8] Assheton Harbord was awarded the "Mortimer Singer Plate" in 1909 for the longest balloon journey in July, August or September in 1908. She took part in the Aero Club Challenge Cup and won the Krabbe Cup.[1][5][9]

She drove her own car and was convicted of speeding at least four times by 1911.[10] Assheton Harbord also served in the Volunteer Motor Mobilisation Corps in 1915.

She died in 1928.[11][12]

References and sources
  1. "Assheton Harbord - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk.
  2. Heald, Henrietta. Magnificent Women and their Revolutionary Machines. Unbound Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78352-679-6.
  3. "Cuningham, James MacNabb (1829–1905), military surgeon and medical administrator". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32664. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  4. "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com.
  5. "THE HON. MRS. ASSHETON HARBORD". Northern Argus (Clare, SA : 1869 - 1954). 10 April 1908. p. 5.
  6. "Flight magazine". 6 November 1909. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. "PRIDE OF THE MORNING". Westralian Worker (Perth, WA : 1900 - 1951). 9 July 1915. p. 2.
  8. "LADY AERONAUT". Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 - 1954). 5 February 1908. p. 5.
  9. "FAIR FLYERS". Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954). 20 December 1919. p. 7.
  10. "Dundee Evening Telegraph". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 17 February 1911. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  11. "CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLES". Westralian Worker (Perth, WA : 1900 - 1951). 28 May 1915. p. 3.
  12. "Women Out Of Doors". Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954). 11 May 1934. p. 12.


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