Amelia Earhart: Biography, Childhood, Disappearance, & Facts

Early Life

Born: July 24, 1897, Atchison, Kansas, U.S.
Family: Father was a railroad lawyer; mother from an affluent family.
Youth: Displayed adventurous and independent nature.
Education: Completed high school in Chicago, 1916; attended Ogontz School in Pennsylvania.
World War I: Developed interest in care for soldiers; became a nurse's aide in Toronto, 1918.

Initial Aviation Experience: First airplane ride in 1920; began flying lessons in California.
Pilot’s License: Acquired in 1923 after purchasing a Kinner Airster plane.
Social Work: Worked at a settlement house in Boston while pursuing aviation.
Famous Flight (1928): Selected to fly across the Atlantic as a passenger, leading to international fame.
- Book: 20 Hrs. 40 Min. about the flight.
- Publicity managed by George Palmer Putnam; married in 1931.
Transatlantic Solo Flight (1932): First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
- Flight from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland to Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
- Book: The Fun of It published after the flight.
Achievements in 1935: First solo flight from Hawaii to California.
Encouragement of Women: Advocated for women in aviation; helped found the Ninety-Nines.
Other Accomplishments: Established a clothing line for active women (1933).

World Flight Attempt (1937): Aimed to fly around the world with navigator Fred Noonan.
- Began from Miami on June 1; traveled 22,000 miles by June 29.
- Disappeared on July 2, en route to Howland Island.
- Last transmission mentioned running out of fuel; believed to have crashed 100 miles from Howland.
Aftermath: Extensive search ended July 19, 1937; declared lost at sea.
- Published materials in Last Flight (1937).
Impact and Legacy: Disappearance fueled public intrigue and theories; remembered as a pioneer in aviation and women's rights.