Posted on Sep 13, 2017
The Long and Winding Road to Automobile Safety
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New York City, September 13 ,1899;
Henry H. Bliss became the first recorded motor vehicle fatality in America when he was struck and killed by an automobile.
Since then, there have been continuous changes to improve car safety.
By David G Allan
13 September 2013
It was the evening of September 13, 1899, when 69-year-old Henry H Bliss stepped from a trolley car along New York’s Central Park, was hit by a taxi cab and died the next morning from injuries. He was gentlemanly helping a lady friend off the trolley when he was run down.
“Fatally hurt by automobile”, The New York Times story read, seizing on gruesome details such as “crushed” skull and chest, and gossipy ones such as the fact that the taxi’s passenger was David Edson, the son of a former mayor. Edson also happened to be a doctor, returning from a sick call, and tended to Bliss on the scene. The driver was arrested and jailed but later acquitted.
The story makes the history books because Bliss was the first fatal car accident victim, pedestrian or otherwise, in North America. (A woman died 30 years and two weeks earlier in Ireland when she was thrown from a steam-powered conveyance built by her cousins.) But the most surprising detail, in hindsight, was not even noteworthy enough to make the newspaper account: the car was electric.
No, Henry Bliss wasn't killed by a time-travelling, retro-fitted DeLorean. In the late 1800s, electric-powered cars were among the highest performing, and most popular, vehicles on the road. In 1900, there were more electric cars in New York City than gasoline-powered ones, and for good reason. They were less smelly and quieter than their fuel-burning counterparts, didn't require a hand-crank start and they eliminated the hardest part of early driving: shifting gears. The fleet of taxis that ultimately were the death of Bliss were built by the Electric Vehicle Company, an enterprise that was eventually done in by the difficulty of maintaining infrastructure for charging the batteries – talk about back to the future.
For years the Electric Vehicle Company cleverly swapped out old batteries for fresh ones at the end of a taxi’s shift, but as the fleet grew, it became harder to maintain and organise the battery facilities. Mainly because the company failed to properly scale its success, it went bankrupt in 1907, a 100-plus year setback for electric passenger vehicles. A different cautionary tale.
At the corner of 74th Street and Central Park West, inside an area once known to trolley drivers as the “Dangerous Stretch” for the many non-fatal accidents that had occurred there in the summer months before Bliss was killed, a plaque was erected that read, in part: “When Mr. Bliss, a New York real estate man, died the next morning from his injuries, he became the first recorded motor vehicle fatality in the Western Hemisphere. This sign was erected to remember Mr. Bliss on the centennial of his untimely death and to promote safety on our streets and highways.”
So next time you are helping a lady exit a trolley, watch out for cars. If it’s electric, you may not hear it coming.
http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20130912-a-landmark-death-114-years-later
https://www.wired.com/2011/09/0913first-us-pedestrian-killed-by-car/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_H._Bliss
@ col mikel COL Mikel J. Burroughs @ ltc stephen LTC Stephen C. @ ltc stephen LTC Stephen F. @ ltc frank LTC (Join to see) @ ltc john LTC John Mohor @ maj william Maj William W. 'Bill' Price @ maj stephen LTC (Join to see) @ capt tom Capt Tom Brown @ capt marty Maj Marty Hogan @ smsgt doc SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas @ tsgt joe TSgt Joe C. @ sra christopher SrA Christopher Wright @ msg andrew MSG Andrew White @ sfc william SFC William Farrell @ sgt david SGT (Join to see) @ sgt david SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth @ sp5 mark SP5 Mark Kuzinski @ spc margaret SPC Margaret Higgins SCPO Morris Ramsey Alan K.
Henry H. Bliss became the first recorded motor vehicle fatality in America when he was struck and killed by an automobile.
Since then, there have been continuous changes to improve car safety.
By David G Allan
13 September 2013
It was the evening of September 13, 1899, when 69-year-old Henry H Bliss stepped from a trolley car along New York’s Central Park, was hit by a taxi cab and died the next morning from injuries. He was gentlemanly helping a lady friend off the trolley when he was run down.
“Fatally hurt by automobile”, The New York Times story read, seizing on gruesome details such as “crushed” skull and chest, and gossipy ones such as the fact that the taxi’s passenger was David Edson, the son of a former mayor. Edson also happened to be a doctor, returning from a sick call, and tended to Bliss on the scene. The driver was arrested and jailed but later acquitted.
The story makes the history books because Bliss was the first fatal car accident victim, pedestrian or otherwise, in North America. (A woman died 30 years and two weeks earlier in Ireland when she was thrown from a steam-powered conveyance built by her cousins.) But the most surprising detail, in hindsight, was not even noteworthy enough to make the newspaper account: the car was electric.
No, Henry Bliss wasn't killed by a time-travelling, retro-fitted DeLorean. In the late 1800s, electric-powered cars were among the highest performing, and most popular, vehicles on the road. In 1900, there were more electric cars in New York City than gasoline-powered ones, and for good reason. They were less smelly and quieter than their fuel-burning counterparts, didn't require a hand-crank start and they eliminated the hardest part of early driving: shifting gears. The fleet of taxis that ultimately were the death of Bliss were built by the Electric Vehicle Company, an enterprise that was eventually done in by the difficulty of maintaining infrastructure for charging the batteries – talk about back to the future.
For years the Electric Vehicle Company cleverly swapped out old batteries for fresh ones at the end of a taxi’s shift, but as the fleet grew, it became harder to maintain and organise the battery facilities. Mainly because the company failed to properly scale its success, it went bankrupt in 1907, a 100-plus year setback for electric passenger vehicles. A different cautionary tale.
At the corner of 74th Street and Central Park West, inside an area once known to trolley drivers as the “Dangerous Stretch” for the many non-fatal accidents that had occurred there in the summer months before Bliss was killed, a plaque was erected that read, in part: “When Mr. Bliss, a New York real estate man, died the next morning from his injuries, he became the first recorded motor vehicle fatality in the Western Hemisphere. This sign was erected to remember Mr. Bliss on the centennial of his untimely death and to promote safety on our streets and highways.”
So next time you are helping a lady exit a trolley, watch out for cars. If it’s electric, you may not hear it coming.
http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20130912-a-landmark-death-114-years-later
https://www.wired.com/2011/09/0913first-us-pedestrian-killed-by-car/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_H._Bliss
@ col mikel COL Mikel J. Burroughs @ ltc stephen LTC Stephen C. @ ltc stephen LTC Stephen F. @ ltc frank LTC (Join to see) @ ltc john LTC John Mohor @ maj william Maj William W. 'Bill' Price @ maj stephen LTC (Join to see) @ capt tom Capt Tom Brown @ capt marty Maj Marty Hogan @ smsgt doc SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas @ tsgt joe TSgt Joe C. @ sra christopher SrA Christopher Wright @ msg andrew MSG Andrew White @ sfc william SFC William Farrell @ sgt david SGT (Join to see) @ sgt david SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth @ sp5 mark SP5 Mark Kuzinski @ spc margaret SPC Margaret Higgins SCPO Morris Ramsey Alan K.
Automotive
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American History
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Thanks for sharing a video historical summary of the earliest automobile accident SGT John " Mac " McConnell.
I recognize many were killed by horse-drawn vehicles long before the automobile and some were killed by trains in the 19th century. in the Civil War alone the numbers killed in horse-drawn vehicular accidents.
Here is a listing of politicians killed by falls from horses or by
1. Joshua Fry (1699-1754) — of Albemarle County, Va. Born in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, 1699. Member of Virginia House of Burgesses. Surveyor and co-author with Peter Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson's father) of a famous early map titled "Map of the Most Inhabited part of Virginia, containing the whole province of Maryland with Part of Pensilvania, New Jersey and North Carolina." Upon his death, the young George Washington took command of Virginia's military forces. Died, of injuries received in a fall from his horse, near Cumberland, Allegany County, Md., May 31, 1754 (age about 54 years). Original interment somewhere in Allegany County, Md.; reinterment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Cumberland, Md.
2. Edward Hempstead (1780-1817) — of St. Louis, Mo. Born in New London, New London County, Conn., June 3, 1780. Delegate to U.S. Congress from Missouri Territory, 1812-14. Was thrown from a horse, which resulted in his death six days later, at St. Louis, Mo., August 10, 1817 (age 37 years, 68 days). Interment at Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.
Hempstead County, Ark. is named for him.
See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
3. Arthur St. Clair (1734-1818) — Born in Scotland, March 23, 1734. General in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War; Delegate to Continental Congress from Pennsylvania, 1785-87; Governor of Northwest Territory, 1788-1802; Federalist candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, 1790. Episcopalian. Member, Society of the Cincinnati; Freemasons. Injured in a fall from an overturned horsedrawn cart, and died a few days later, near Youngstown, Westmoreland County, Pa., August 31, 1818 (age 84 years, 161 days). Interment at Old St. Clair Cemetery, Greensburg, Pa.
4. William Wyatt Bibb (1781-1820) — also known as William W. Bibb — of Petersburg, Elbert County, Ga. Born in Prince Edward County, Va., October 2, 1781. Democrat. Member of Georgia state house of representatives, 1803; U.S. Representative from Georgia, 1807-13 (4th District 1807, at-large 1807-09, 1st District 1809-11, at-large 1811-13); U.S. Senator from Georgia, 1813-16; Governor of Alabama Territory, 1817-19; Governor of Alabama, 1819-20; died in office 1820. Fell from his horse, sustained internal injuries, and died in Autauga County, Ala., July 9, 1820 (age 38 years, 281 days). Interment a private or family graveyard, Elmore County, Ala.
5. Morris Birkbeck (1764-1825) — also known as Jonathan Freeman — of Edwards County, Ill. Born in Settle, Yorkshire, England, January 23, 1764. Secretary of state of Illinois, 1824-25. Anti-slavery writer under the pseudonym "Jonathan Freeman". While returning on horseback from a visit to Robert Owen, he drowned while fording the Fox River, Edwards County, Ill., June 4, 1825 (age 61 years, 132 days). Interment at New Harmony Cemetery, New Harmony, Ind.; memorial monument at Courthouse Grounds, Albion, Ill.
6. Isaac Griffin (1756-1827) — of Fayette County, Pa. Born in Kent County, Del., February 27, 1756. Democrat. Justice of the peace; member of Pennsylvania state house of representatives, 1808-12; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 13th District, 1813-17. Died from the effects of a fall from a wagon, on his estate in Nicholson Township, Fayette County, Pa., October 12, 1827 (age 71 years, 227 days). Interment a private or family graveyard, Fayette County, Pa.
7. Pierre Auguste Charles Bourguignon Derbigny (1769-1829) — also known as Pierre A. C. B. Derbigny — of Louisiana. Born in France, June 30, 1769. Secretary of state of Louisiana, 1820-28; Governor of Louisiana, 1828-29; died in office 1829. Catholic. Member, Freemasons. Died, after being thrown from a horsedrawn carriage, in Gretna, Jefferson Parish, La., October 6, 1829 (age 60 years, 98 days). Entombed at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans, La.
8. James Shields (1762-1831) — of Ohio. Born in Banbridge, County Down, Ireland (now Northern Ireland), April 13, 1762. Member of Ohio state house of representatives, 1806; Presidential Elector for Ohio, 1828; U.S. Representative from Ohio 2nd District, 1829-31. Killed in the accidental overturning of a stagecoach, near Venice, Butler County, Ohio, August 13, 1831 (age 69 years, 122 days). Interment at Venice Cemetery, Venice, Ohio.
9. Richard Skinner Richard Skinner (1778-1833) — of Manchester, Bennington County, Vt. Born in Litchfield, Litchfield County, Conn., May 30, 1778. Democrat. Lawyer; Bennington County State's Attorney, 1801-13; probate judge in Vermont, 1805-13; U.S. Representative from Vermont at-large, 1813-15; justice of Vermont state supreme court, 1815-16; chief justice of Vermont Supreme Court, 1823-28; member of Vermont state house of representatives, 1818; Speaker of the Vermont State House of Representatives, 1818; Governor of Vermont, 1820-23. Injured when he fell from a horse-drawn carriage, and died soon after, in Manchester, Bennington County, Vt., May 23, 1833 (age 54 years, 358 days). Interment at Dellwood Cemetery, Manchester, Vt.
10. William Harris Wharton (1802-1839) — of Texas. Born in Virginia, 1802. Delegate to Texas Convention of 1832 from District of Victoria, 1832; delegate to Texas Convention of 1833 from District of Victoria, 1833; delegate to Texas Consultation of 1835 from District of Columbia, 1835; member of Texas Republic Senate from District of Brazoria, 1836, 1837-39; died in office 1839. Killed when he accidentally shot himself while dismounting from his horse, near Hempstead, Waller County, Tex., March 14, 1839 (age about 36 years). Interment at Restwood Memorial Park, Clute, Tex.
11. Burwell Bassett (1764-1841) — of Williamsburg, Va. Born in New Kent County, Va., March 18, 1764. Democrat. Member of Virginia state house of delegates, 1787-89, 1819-21; member of Virginia state senate, 1794-1805; U.S. Representative from Virginia, 1805-13, 1815-19, 1821-29 (at-large 1805-07, 12th District 1807-09, 22nd District 1809-11, 12th District 1811-13, 13th District 1815-19, 8th District 1821-29). Died, after a fall from his horse, in New Kent County, Va., February 26, 1841 (age 76 years, 345 days). Interment at Eltham Plantation, New Kent County, Va.
12. James Gillespie Birney (1792-1857) — also known as James G. Birney — of Danville, Boyle County, Ky.; Huntsville, Madison County, Ala.; Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio; New York, New York County, N.Y.; Lower Saginaw, Saginaw County (now Bay City, Bay County), Mich. Born in Danville, Boyle County, Ky., February 4, 1792. Lawyer; studied law in the office of Alexander J. Dallas in Philadelphia; member of Kentucky state house of representatives, 1816-18; member of Alabama state house of representatives, 1819-20; solicitor general of Alabama, 1823-26; candidate for Presidential Elector for Alabama, 1828; mayor of Huntsville, Ala., 1829; abolitionist; Liberty candidate for President of the United States, 1840, 1844; candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1843, 1845. Presbyterian. Member, Freemasons. While traveling in 1845, the horse he was riding bucked; he fell and was injured; his condition worsened over time, leading to tremors and paralysis, and he died as a result, in Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, N.J., November 25, 1857 (age 65 years, 294 days). Interment at Williamsburgh Cemetery, Groveland, N.Y.
13. Henry F. Belitz (1817-1878) — also known as "Father of Kiel" — of Wisconsin. Born in Schwedt, Germany, February 16, 1817. Took part in the 1848 German uprising and led a 10,000 member resistance group called the Volksverein; founded the city of Kiel, Wisconsin in 1854.; colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War; Presidential Elector for Wisconsin, 1864. German ancestry. Fell from his horsedrawn buggy, was run over, and died as a result, March 31, 1878 (age 61 years, 43 days). Interment at Kiel Cemetery, Kiel, Wis.
14. George A. Mitchell (d. 1878) — of Cadillac, Wexford County, Mich. Mayor of Cadillac, Mich., 1877-78. Thrown from his buggy, and struck his head on a stump; died three days later, in Cadillac, Wexford County, Mich., August 8, 1878. Burial location unknown.
15. William Alexander Steel (1836-1879) — also known as W. A. Steel — of Joliet, Will County, Ill. Born in Blairsville, Indiana County, Pa., October 11, 1836. Major in the Union Army during the Civil War; lawyer; stone quarry proprietor; mayor of Joliet, Ill., 1869-71, 1872-73, 1875-76. Died, reportedly as the result of a horsedrawn sleigh accident, in Joliet, Will County, Ill., March 28, 1879 (age 42 years, 168 days). Interment at Oakwood Cemetery, Joliet, Ill.
16. Theodore Chardavoyne Vermilye (1824-1879) — also known as Theodore C. Vermilye — of Staten Island, Richmond County, N.Y. Born in New York, December 18, 1824. Lawyer; member of New York state assembly from Richmond County, 1860. Killed, when he was thrown from a horsedrawn carriage, which had collided with another vehicle, in Staten Island, Richmond County, N.Y., November 13, 1879 (age 54 years, 330 days). Burial location unknown.
17. Marcus Henderson Cruikshank (1826-1881) — also known as Marcus H. Cruikshank — of Talladega, Talladega County, Ala. Born in Autauga County, Ala., December 12, 1826. Mayor of Talladega, Ala.; Representative from Alabama in the Confederate Congress 4th District, 1864-65. While riding, he was thrown from his horse and killed, October 10, 1881 (age 54 years, 302 days). Interment at Clark Hill Cemetery, Talladega, Ala.
18. William Gilpin (1815-1894) — of Colorado. Born in New Castle County, Del., October 4, 1815. Major in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War; Governor of Colorado Territory, 1861-62; candidate for Delegate to U.S. Congress from Colorado Territory, 1862. Run over by a horse and buggy, and later died as a result, in Denver, Colo., January 20, 1894 (age 78 years, 108 days). Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Colo.
19. William Harmon Peace Jenkins (1830-1908) — also known as William H. P. Jenkins — of Granville County, N.C. Born in Granville County, N.C., May 3, 1830. Member of North Carolina house of commons from Granville County, 1860-61, 1865-67; served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; member of North Carolina state senate 21st District, 1881-82, 1887-88; member of North Carolina state house of representatives from Granville County, 1901-02. Methodist. Fell from his horse, caught his foot in the stirrup and dragged on the ground, and died soon after, in Granville County, N.C., January 24, 1908 (age 77 years, 266 days). Interment a private or family graveyard, Granville County, N.C.
20. John Clarence Cudahy (1887-1943) — also known as John Cudahy — of Granville, Milwaukee County, Wis. Born in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wis., December 10, 1887. Democrat. Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, 1916; served in the U.S. Army during World War I; U.S. Ambassador to Poland, 1933-37; Belgium, 1940; U.S. Minister to Ireland, 1937-40; Luxembourg, 1940. Catholic. Died of a broken neck after being thrown from his horse, while riding on his estate near Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wis., September 6, 1943 (age 55 years, 270 days). Burial location unknown.
21. Howard Malcolm Baldrige (1922-1987) — also known as Malcolm Baldrige; Mac Baldrige — of Woodbury, Litchfield County, Conn. Born in Omaha, Douglas County, Neb., October 4, 1922. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; business executive; delegate to Republican National Convention from Connecticut, 1964, 1972; delegate to Connecticut state constitutional convention 6th District, 1965; U.S. Secretary of Commerce, 1981-87; died in office 1987. Congregationalist. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1988. Died after falling off a horse while practicing rodeo, July 25, 1987 (age 64 years, 294 days). Interment at New North Cemetery, Woodbury, Conn.
22. Mary Hansen Mead (1935-1996) — of near Jackson, Teton County, Wyo. Born in Teton County, Wyo., June 21, 1935. Republican. Candidate for Governor of Wyoming, 1990. Female. Thrown by a horse while herding cattle, and died as a result, in Teton County, Wyo., June 21, 1996 (age 61 years, 0 days). Cremated; ashes interred at St. John's Episcopal Church, Jackson, Wyo.
http://politicalgraveyard.com/death/horse.html
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I recognize many were killed by horse-drawn vehicles long before the automobile and some were killed by trains in the 19th century. in the Civil War alone the numbers killed in horse-drawn vehicular accidents.
Here is a listing of politicians killed by falls from horses or by
1. Joshua Fry (1699-1754) — of Albemarle County, Va. Born in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, 1699. Member of Virginia House of Burgesses. Surveyor and co-author with Peter Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson's father) of a famous early map titled "Map of the Most Inhabited part of Virginia, containing the whole province of Maryland with Part of Pensilvania, New Jersey and North Carolina." Upon his death, the young George Washington took command of Virginia's military forces. Died, of injuries received in a fall from his horse, near Cumberland, Allegany County, Md., May 31, 1754 (age about 54 years). Original interment somewhere in Allegany County, Md.; reinterment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Cumberland, Md.
2. Edward Hempstead (1780-1817) — of St. Louis, Mo. Born in New London, New London County, Conn., June 3, 1780. Delegate to U.S. Congress from Missouri Territory, 1812-14. Was thrown from a horse, which resulted in his death six days later, at St. Louis, Mo., August 10, 1817 (age 37 years, 68 days). Interment at Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.
Hempstead County, Ark. is named for him.
See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
3. Arthur St. Clair (1734-1818) — Born in Scotland, March 23, 1734. General in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War; Delegate to Continental Congress from Pennsylvania, 1785-87; Governor of Northwest Territory, 1788-1802; Federalist candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, 1790. Episcopalian. Member, Society of the Cincinnati; Freemasons. Injured in a fall from an overturned horsedrawn cart, and died a few days later, near Youngstown, Westmoreland County, Pa., August 31, 1818 (age 84 years, 161 days). Interment at Old St. Clair Cemetery, Greensburg, Pa.
4. William Wyatt Bibb (1781-1820) — also known as William W. Bibb — of Petersburg, Elbert County, Ga. Born in Prince Edward County, Va., October 2, 1781. Democrat. Member of Georgia state house of representatives, 1803; U.S. Representative from Georgia, 1807-13 (4th District 1807, at-large 1807-09, 1st District 1809-11, at-large 1811-13); U.S. Senator from Georgia, 1813-16; Governor of Alabama Territory, 1817-19; Governor of Alabama, 1819-20; died in office 1820. Fell from his horse, sustained internal injuries, and died in Autauga County, Ala., July 9, 1820 (age 38 years, 281 days). Interment a private or family graveyard, Elmore County, Ala.
5. Morris Birkbeck (1764-1825) — also known as Jonathan Freeman — of Edwards County, Ill. Born in Settle, Yorkshire, England, January 23, 1764. Secretary of state of Illinois, 1824-25. Anti-slavery writer under the pseudonym "Jonathan Freeman". While returning on horseback from a visit to Robert Owen, he drowned while fording the Fox River, Edwards County, Ill., June 4, 1825 (age 61 years, 132 days). Interment at New Harmony Cemetery, New Harmony, Ind.; memorial monument at Courthouse Grounds, Albion, Ill.
6. Isaac Griffin (1756-1827) — of Fayette County, Pa. Born in Kent County, Del., February 27, 1756. Democrat. Justice of the peace; member of Pennsylvania state house of representatives, 1808-12; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 13th District, 1813-17. Died from the effects of a fall from a wagon, on his estate in Nicholson Township, Fayette County, Pa., October 12, 1827 (age 71 years, 227 days). Interment a private or family graveyard, Fayette County, Pa.
7. Pierre Auguste Charles Bourguignon Derbigny (1769-1829) — also known as Pierre A. C. B. Derbigny — of Louisiana. Born in France, June 30, 1769. Secretary of state of Louisiana, 1820-28; Governor of Louisiana, 1828-29; died in office 1829. Catholic. Member, Freemasons. Died, after being thrown from a horsedrawn carriage, in Gretna, Jefferson Parish, La., October 6, 1829 (age 60 years, 98 days). Entombed at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans, La.
8. James Shields (1762-1831) — of Ohio. Born in Banbridge, County Down, Ireland (now Northern Ireland), April 13, 1762. Member of Ohio state house of representatives, 1806; Presidential Elector for Ohio, 1828; U.S. Representative from Ohio 2nd District, 1829-31. Killed in the accidental overturning of a stagecoach, near Venice, Butler County, Ohio, August 13, 1831 (age 69 years, 122 days). Interment at Venice Cemetery, Venice, Ohio.
9. Richard Skinner Richard Skinner (1778-1833) — of Manchester, Bennington County, Vt. Born in Litchfield, Litchfield County, Conn., May 30, 1778. Democrat. Lawyer; Bennington County State's Attorney, 1801-13; probate judge in Vermont, 1805-13; U.S. Representative from Vermont at-large, 1813-15; justice of Vermont state supreme court, 1815-16; chief justice of Vermont Supreme Court, 1823-28; member of Vermont state house of representatives, 1818; Speaker of the Vermont State House of Representatives, 1818; Governor of Vermont, 1820-23. Injured when he fell from a horse-drawn carriage, and died soon after, in Manchester, Bennington County, Vt., May 23, 1833 (age 54 years, 358 days). Interment at Dellwood Cemetery, Manchester, Vt.
10. William Harris Wharton (1802-1839) — of Texas. Born in Virginia, 1802. Delegate to Texas Convention of 1832 from District of Victoria, 1832; delegate to Texas Convention of 1833 from District of Victoria, 1833; delegate to Texas Consultation of 1835 from District of Columbia, 1835; member of Texas Republic Senate from District of Brazoria, 1836, 1837-39; died in office 1839. Killed when he accidentally shot himself while dismounting from his horse, near Hempstead, Waller County, Tex., March 14, 1839 (age about 36 years). Interment at Restwood Memorial Park, Clute, Tex.
11. Burwell Bassett (1764-1841) — of Williamsburg, Va. Born in New Kent County, Va., March 18, 1764. Democrat. Member of Virginia state house of delegates, 1787-89, 1819-21; member of Virginia state senate, 1794-1805; U.S. Representative from Virginia, 1805-13, 1815-19, 1821-29 (at-large 1805-07, 12th District 1807-09, 22nd District 1809-11, 12th District 1811-13, 13th District 1815-19, 8th District 1821-29). Died, after a fall from his horse, in New Kent County, Va., February 26, 1841 (age 76 years, 345 days). Interment at Eltham Plantation, New Kent County, Va.
12. James Gillespie Birney (1792-1857) — also known as James G. Birney — of Danville, Boyle County, Ky.; Huntsville, Madison County, Ala.; Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio; New York, New York County, N.Y.; Lower Saginaw, Saginaw County (now Bay City, Bay County), Mich. Born in Danville, Boyle County, Ky., February 4, 1792. Lawyer; studied law in the office of Alexander J. Dallas in Philadelphia; member of Kentucky state house of representatives, 1816-18; member of Alabama state house of representatives, 1819-20; solicitor general of Alabama, 1823-26; candidate for Presidential Elector for Alabama, 1828; mayor of Huntsville, Ala., 1829; abolitionist; Liberty candidate for President of the United States, 1840, 1844; candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1843, 1845. Presbyterian. Member, Freemasons. While traveling in 1845, the horse he was riding bucked; he fell and was injured; his condition worsened over time, leading to tremors and paralysis, and he died as a result, in Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, N.J., November 25, 1857 (age 65 years, 294 days). Interment at Williamsburgh Cemetery, Groveland, N.Y.
13. Henry F. Belitz (1817-1878) — also known as "Father of Kiel" — of Wisconsin. Born in Schwedt, Germany, February 16, 1817. Took part in the 1848 German uprising and led a 10,000 member resistance group called the Volksverein; founded the city of Kiel, Wisconsin in 1854.; colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War; Presidential Elector for Wisconsin, 1864. German ancestry. Fell from his horsedrawn buggy, was run over, and died as a result, March 31, 1878 (age 61 years, 43 days). Interment at Kiel Cemetery, Kiel, Wis.
14. George A. Mitchell (d. 1878) — of Cadillac, Wexford County, Mich. Mayor of Cadillac, Mich., 1877-78. Thrown from his buggy, and struck his head on a stump; died three days later, in Cadillac, Wexford County, Mich., August 8, 1878. Burial location unknown.
15. William Alexander Steel (1836-1879) — also known as W. A. Steel — of Joliet, Will County, Ill. Born in Blairsville, Indiana County, Pa., October 11, 1836. Major in the Union Army during the Civil War; lawyer; stone quarry proprietor; mayor of Joliet, Ill., 1869-71, 1872-73, 1875-76. Died, reportedly as the result of a horsedrawn sleigh accident, in Joliet, Will County, Ill., March 28, 1879 (age 42 years, 168 days). Interment at Oakwood Cemetery, Joliet, Ill.
16. Theodore Chardavoyne Vermilye (1824-1879) — also known as Theodore C. Vermilye — of Staten Island, Richmond County, N.Y. Born in New York, December 18, 1824. Lawyer; member of New York state assembly from Richmond County, 1860. Killed, when he was thrown from a horsedrawn carriage, which had collided with another vehicle, in Staten Island, Richmond County, N.Y., November 13, 1879 (age 54 years, 330 days). Burial location unknown.
17. Marcus Henderson Cruikshank (1826-1881) — also known as Marcus H. Cruikshank — of Talladega, Talladega County, Ala. Born in Autauga County, Ala., December 12, 1826. Mayor of Talladega, Ala.; Representative from Alabama in the Confederate Congress 4th District, 1864-65. While riding, he was thrown from his horse and killed, October 10, 1881 (age 54 years, 302 days). Interment at Clark Hill Cemetery, Talladega, Ala.
18. William Gilpin (1815-1894) — of Colorado. Born in New Castle County, Del., October 4, 1815. Major in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War; Governor of Colorado Territory, 1861-62; candidate for Delegate to U.S. Congress from Colorado Territory, 1862. Run over by a horse and buggy, and later died as a result, in Denver, Colo., January 20, 1894 (age 78 years, 108 days). Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Colo.
19. William Harmon Peace Jenkins (1830-1908) — also known as William H. P. Jenkins — of Granville County, N.C. Born in Granville County, N.C., May 3, 1830. Member of North Carolina house of commons from Granville County, 1860-61, 1865-67; served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; member of North Carolina state senate 21st District, 1881-82, 1887-88; member of North Carolina state house of representatives from Granville County, 1901-02. Methodist. Fell from his horse, caught his foot in the stirrup and dragged on the ground, and died soon after, in Granville County, N.C., January 24, 1908 (age 77 years, 266 days). Interment a private or family graveyard, Granville County, N.C.
20. John Clarence Cudahy (1887-1943) — also known as John Cudahy — of Granville, Milwaukee County, Wis. Born in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wis., December 10, 1887. Democrat. Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, 1916; served in the U.S. Army during World War I; U.S. Ambassador to Poland, 1933-37; Belgium, 1940; U.S. Minister to Ireland, 1937-40; Luxembourg, 1940. Catholic. Died of a broken neck after being thrown from his horse, while riding on his estate near Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wis., September 6, 1943 (age 55 years, 270 days). Burial location unknown.
21. Howard Malcolm Baldrige (1922-1987) — also known as Malcolm Baldrige; Mac Baldrige — of Woodbury, Litchfield County, Conn. Born in Omaha, Douglas County, Neb., October 4, 1922. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; business executive; delegate to Republican National Convention from Connecticut, 1964, 1972; delegate to Connecticut state constitutional convention 6th District, 1965; U.S. Secretary of Commerce, 1981-87; died in office 1987. Congregationalist. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1988. Died after falling off a horse while practicing rodeo, July 25, 1987 (age 64 years, 294 days). Interment at New North Cemetery, Woodbury, Conn.
22. Mary Hansen Mead (1935-1996) — of near Jackson, Teton County, Wyo. Born in Teton County, Wyo., June 21, 1935. Republican. Candidate for Governor of Wyoming, 1990. Female. Thrown by a horse while herding cattle, and died as a result, in Teton County, Wyo., June 21, 1996 (age 61 years, 0 days). Cremated; ashes interred at St. John's Episcopal Church, Jackson, Wyo.
http://politicalgraveyard.com/death/horse.html
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx TSgt Joe C. SP5 Robert Ruck SP5 Mark Kuzinski SrA Christopher Wright SGT Robert George CPL Eric Escasio SPC (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SGT (Join to see)
The Political Graveyard: Politicians: Death from Horses and Horsedrawn Vehicles
A database of political history and cemeteries, with brief biographical entries for 277,483U.S. political figures, living and dead, from the 1700s to the present.
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Good morning SGT John " Mac " McConnell Interesting history on the first vehicular casualty in the US.
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Morning SGT John " Mac " McConnell interesting story. So many different facets from safety, rise of the auto, poor business models, to what would we do with all those batteries?
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