X MINUTES. [April 24, 



subject of aerial navigation, at a time when this was not considered 

 within the reahn of scientific study. The mere fact that a man of 

 his reputation and position gave serious attention to this important 

 subject lent it an impetus and standing which it would not have 

 otherwise received for many years and therefore greatly advanced 

 the development of this science and art. But he did more than 

 give an impetus, for he not only discovered principles of prime 

 importance in connection with aerodynamics, but was the first to 

 produce a machine heavier than air, supported and propelled by its 

 own engine and possessed of no extraneous or lifting power which 

 actually made an independent flight. 



The first flight of a heavier than air machine which ever occurred 

 took place over the Potomac River on May 6, 1896 and was succeeded 

 by numerous other flights of various models, which he built, all of 

 the monoplane type. 



He had received honorary degrees from Oxford and Cambridge 

 Universities in England and from Harvard, Michigan, Princeton 

 and Wisconsin in the United States. Medals were awarded him 

 by the National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society of London, 

 the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Institute of France 

 and the Astronomical Society of France and he was a member or 

 correspondent of all of these and many other learned Societies in- 

 cluding the Academia dei Lincei of Rome. 



He had an especial aft'ection for the American Philosophical So- 

 ciety, one of the few organizations in which he accepted an office. 



In addition to these great achievements, Mr. Langley was a 

 man of wide culture and of deep sympathy and insight. That I 

 was permitted to enjoy his friendship was one of the most pro- 

 foundly valued and touching experiences of my life. 



[The donors are Messrs. Cyrus Adler, Carl Barus, L. A. Bauer, 

 Alex. Graham Bell, John A. Brashear, George F. Edmunds, George 

 E. Hale, David Jayne Hill, George Gray, T. C. Mendenhall, Charles 

 E. Munroe, Edward L. Nichols, Richard Olney, Henry Fairfield 

 Osborn, Edward C. Pickering, Raphael Pumpelly, Edward B. Rosa, 

 Frank Schlesinger, Samuel W. Stratton, Mayer Sulzberger, Elihu 

 Thomson, Otto H. Tittmann, Charles D. Walcott, Andrew D. 

 White and Robert S. Woodward.] 



