General Frederick Dent Grant

[Mike Serpa]

General Grant's eldest son (1850-1912).

Photo shows Major General Frederick Dent Grant with aviator James J. ("Jimmie") Ward in New York prior to start of the Hearst Transcontinental Flight, which started from Governor's Island. 1911 Sept. 12
LOC - 09560

The Hearst prize was a US$50,000 aviation prize offered by publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1910 to the first aviator to fly coast to coast across the United States, in either direction, in fewer than 30 days from start to finish.

James J. Ward attempted to win the prize but failed. The prize expired in November 1911 with no winner. Calbraith Perry Rodgers tried to win it, having started too late, but did complete the flight in 49 days, including several crash landings and maintenance delays. Another notable contender was Robert George Fowler.

 

[ole]

Wow! Freddy. Good find.

 

[AndyHall]

Great photo.

 

[AndyHall]

Not too far off topic, but Calbraith Perry Rodgers' aircraft in that same race, the Wright Moded EX Vin Fiz, is part of the National Air & Space Museum collection.

 

[TinCan]

Wow Mike, had no idea Grant's son was a major general. Cool pic!

 

[Mike Serpa]

Wow Mike, had no idea Grant's son was a major general. Cool pic!

I did not know, either. All I knew was that he was named after his mom's brother General Frederick Tracy Dent. A classmate of U.S. Grant.

General Frederick Tracy Dent - LOC #00678