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William Edward Boeing

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Authoritative nameBoeing, William Edward, 1881-1956Alternative namesBoeing, BillPlaceSeattle (Wash.)Detroit (Mich.)Washington (State)OccupationsBusinesspeopleBiographical/Historical Note

William E. "Bill" Boeing was an aviation pioneer who founded The Boeing Company in 1916.

William Edward Boeing, Sr. was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 1, 1881 to Marie Ortmann and Wilhelm Böing. After leaving Yale University in 1903, Boeing relocated to Washington state to go into the lumber business. In 1909, he saw a manned flying machine for the first time and a new interest was born. Boeing took flying lessons from Glenn Martin at the Martin Flying School in Los Angeles, California and bought a Martin aircraft. His interest grew and, in partnership with his friend, U.S. Navy Commander George Conrad "G.C." Westervelt, he decided to build an aircraft. This resulted in the B & W biplane seaplane, also known as the Boeing Model 1, which was such a success that Boeing decided to go into the aircraft business.

He purchased Heath Shipyard along the Duwamish River in Seattle, Washington, later to be known as the "Red Barn" or Boeing Plant 1, and began manufacturing aircraft. During World War I, Boeing Airplane Company built 50 planes for the United States Navy. After World War I, Boeing earned contracts to supply air mail service. Air mail service grew and later added passenger service, which evolved into United Airlines.

In 1929, Boeing helped form United Aircraft and Transport Corporation, which bought several small airlines and merged them into United Air Lines. In 1934, due to the Air Mail Act and post-Depression legislation that required the dispersion of the corporation, Boeing sold his interests in the Boeing Airplane Company but continued to work on other business ventures, spending most of his time involved in property development and the breeding of thoroughbred race horses.

In 1921, Boeing married Bertha Marie Potter Paschall (1891-1977). A year later, the couple had their son, William E. "Bill" Boeing, Jr. (1922-2015). Bill Boeing, Sr. remained in the Seattle, Washington area until his death on September 28, 1956.

Sources and Further Reading

Boeing. "Executive Biography of William E. Boeing." Accessed October 23, 2019. https://www.boeing.com/history/pioneers/william-e-boeing.page

Wikipedia. "William E. Boeing." Last modified October 17, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._Boeing

Document

The Yale Scientific Monthly [Vol. VIII, No. 6]

[Letter to unidentified person from "Wilhelm" (William E. Boeing)]

[Letter to "Wilhelm" (William E. Boeing) from Wilhelm Böing]

[Letter to "Wilhelm" (William E. Boeing) from Wilhem Böing]

Air mail service to Alaska urged [clipping]

City sends first mail to Seattle by aeroplane [clipping]

[Certificate issued to William E. Boeing by Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics]

[List of nominees for 1966 Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies]

[Agenda for 1966 Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies]

[Letter to William E. Boeing, Jr. from James W. Jacobs]

[Letter to James W. Jacobs from Mrs. William E. Boeing]

Boeing in Aviation Hall of Fame [clipping]

Flyer who gave Boeing first ride dies [clipping]

Mr. Boeing rejoins Boeing [clipping]

[Membership card issued to William E. Boeing by the Jockey Club of New York]

Seattle's airport [clipping]

Waves and wind delay airplane [clipping]

[Draft pages from an unidentified book about William E. Boeing]

[Air mail cover addressed to William E. Boeing]

[Letter to William E. Boeing from Captain William G. Lufburrow]

[First flight air mail cover addressed to William E. Boeing]

Image

[William E. Boeing, Vern C. Gorst, Eddie Hubbard, and F. Bell]

[Two images of William E. Boeing Sr.]

[Portrait of William E. Boeing Sr.]

[William E. Boeing Sr. and William M. Allen with Boeing Model 367-80 aircraft]

[William E. Boeing Sr. in cockpit window]

[William E. Boeing Sr. and others with Boeing Model 40 aircraft]

[William E. Boeing Sr., Vern C. Gorst, Edward Hubbard, and Frank Bell]

[William E. Boeing's yacht "Taconite"]

[William E. Boeing and Herb Munter in Curtiss JN-4 Jenny aircraft]

[William E. Boeing]

[Map of Böing family homestead in Germany]

[Caricature drawing of William E. Boeing flying biplane]

[William E. Boeing and man sitting outside]

[William E. Boeing on his yacht "Taconite"]

[William E. Boeing's yacht "Taconite"]

[Crew members aboard William E. Boeing's yacht "Taconite"]

[William E. Boeing's yacht "Taconite"]

[William E. Boeing and man on yacht]

[William E. Boeing and Eddie Hubbard in cockpits of Boeing Model 5 seaplane]

[Boeing Model 5 seaplane piloted by William E. Boeing and Eddie Hubbard]

[William E. Boeing and Eddie Hubbard with Boeing Model 5 seaplane]

[William E. Boeing and man with Boeing's Martin Model TA Hydro seaplane]

Video

[Film footage of Boeing executives and Army officials with Boeing MB-3A aircraft]

[Film footage of aerial views and social gathering of Boeing family associates (Part 2 of 2)]

[Film footage of aerial views and social gathering of Boeing family associates (Part 1 of 2)]

[Film footage of a party attended by William E. Boeing]

Collection

William E. Boeing Sr. Papers

Person

George Conrad Westervelt

Sub-Collection

William E. Boeing Sr. Biographical File

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Date Created7/7/2025

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William Edward Boeing