About
The first woman to fly solo in a powered balloon. Her historic flight, which took place in France, lasted just under two hours.
Before Fame
She convinced Alberto Santos-Dumont to allow her to pilot his dirigible, which he had named "IX."
Trivia
She suffered from glaucoma and lost her vision in one eye. This event inspired her to establish a bank in which to store transplant-ready human corneas.
Family Life
She and her seven brothers and sisters were the children of a businessman father of Cuban heritage and an affluent Spanish mother. She was married and divorced twice, and she gave birth to a son and a daughter.
Associated With
She was nominated by New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia to serve as the city's Municipal Art Committee chairperson.
