Thaddeus Lowe
Born August 20, 1832
Jefferson Mills, New Hampshire
Died January 16, 1913
Pasadena, California
Balloonist for Union Army
Conducted military reconnaissance for
Union forces during Civil War
Thaddeus Lowe developed and supervised a fleet of manned balloons that provided valuable information to Union forces on enemy troop positions and movements. Lowe's balloons thus became the first aviation aircraft used in American military history. The U.S. government never really appreciated the value of Lowe's Balloon Corps, however. By mid-1863, administrative errors and general lack of support brought Lowe's balloon operations to an end.
Difficult Childhood Fosters Independent Spirit
Thaddeus Soieski Constantine Lowe was born in Coos County, New Hampshire, on August 20, 1832, to a family whose ancestors had fought in the Revolutionary War (1776–83). His parents, Clovis and Alpha Lowe, had four other children in addition to Thaddeus. By the time he was ten years old they decided that they could no longer provide for all of them. They arranged to hire Thaddeus out to a neighboring farmer who agreed to provide him with food, shelter, and adult guidance in exchange for work. Saddenedat the idea of separation from his parents and siblings, Lowe reluctantly went off to live with his new guardians.
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