28 Facts About Jorge Newbery

Jorge Alejandro Newbery Malagarie was an Argentine aviator, civil servant, engineer and scientist.

Jorge Newbery died in an airplane crash on 1 March 1914, at the age of 38.

Son of American-born dentist Ralph Newbery, Jorge was born 27 May 1875 in the family home on Florida Street, Buenos Aires.

Jorge Newbery worked as a swimming teacher at the Naval School, and in 1899 he was sent to London to acquire electrical materials.

Jorge Newbery began wanting to rule the skies when he met the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont.

On 9 April 1909, Jorge Newbery wrote the first newspaper article on aviation in Argentina.

Jorge Newbery had not been in or even seen a heavier-than-air craft before he wrote the article.

Jorge Newbery flew an aerostat round-trip for the first time on 24 January 1909, making his second round-trip flight on 2 April.

Jorge Newbery accepted, with the hope of turning around the club's dire financial situation, and continued as president until his death in 1914.

Jorge Newbery took part in the Exposicion Internacional del Centenario in Buenos Aires by making balloon ascents over the exhibition so that visitors could view the surrounding area of Palermo and the river.

Later, in memory of his brother, he had a 2,200 cubic meter balloon called Eduardo Jorge Newbery built, the largest that had ever been built in Argentina.

In 1910, Jorge Newbery obtained his pilot's licence, but continued to make balloon flights until 1912.

When choosing between monoplanes and biplanes, Jorge Newbery preferred the former.

On 24 November 1912, Jorge Newbery crossed the Rio de la Plata in the monoplane "Centenario", a 50 HP Gnome powered Bleriot XI.

Jorge Newbery was the first to cross the river and return in the same day.

Jorge Newbery arrived in Mendoza to attempt the first crossing of the Andes by aircraft.

Jorge Newbery took off with Jimenez Lastra and did some aerobatics until 18:40, the monoplane fell violently.

Jorge Newbery died in the Estancia "Los Tamarindos" in Mendoza, on 1 March 1914, aged 38.

Jorge Newbery excelled in boxing, swimming, motor racing, fencing and rowing, among other sports.

Jorge Newbery won important boxing titles in 1899,1902 and 1903.

Jorge Newbery was one of the personalities who most encouraged the practice of the sport in Argentina, although he is not well-remembered for this.

Jorge Newbery was Director of the Lighting Service of the Municipality of Buenos Aires City until his death.

Jorge Newbery dedicated himself to researching solutions for transportation and traffic in the city of Buenos Aires, suggesting in 1908 the elimination of trams and promoting new technologies of mass transport.

Jorge Newbery habitually wrote for the Annals of the Argentine Scientific Society.

Jorge Newbery has been considered to be the first popular non-political Argentine idol.

One characteristic of Jorge Newbery's personality was the absence of fear: he was known as "Mr Courage".

Jorge Newbery has been one of the most frequently mentioned people and one of the people to whom the most tangos have been dedicated.

The tragic death of Jorge Newbery helped to fix his position as an idol of Argentina, as later happened with Carlos Gardel.