John A. D. McCurdy National Historic Person (1886-1961)
John A. D. McCurdy was designated a national historic person in 1974.
Historical importance:First person to fly an airplane in the British Empire (Silver Dart, 1909).
Commemorative plaque: Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, Chebucto Street, Baddeck, Nova Scotia Footnote1
Born in Baddeck, John McCurdy was associated with Alexander Graham Bell from an early age. As pilot of the Silver Dart, he made the first airplane flight in Canada here at Baddeck on February 23, 1909. In 1910 he became the first Canadian to be issued a pilot's licence. A pioneer of the aircraft industry, he was a founder of the Reid Aircraft Co. (1928), and president of Curtiss-Reid Aircraft Ltd. (1929–1939). McCurdy served as assistant director general of aircraft production for the Canadian government (1939–1947) and was later lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia (1947–1952).
The National Program of Historical Commemoration relies on the participation of Canadians in the identification of places, events and persons of national historic significance. Any member of the public can nominate a topic for consideration by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Related links
- Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Person
- Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site
- First aeroplane flying in Canada National Historic Event
- National historic designations
- National historic persons
- National historic sites designations
- National historic events
- Submit a nomination
- This week in history: The Aerial Experiment Association
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