Facts about Amelia Earhart's Life

Amelia Earhart is one of the most noted figures in American history. Her contribution towards shaping the continent's history and future has made her an iconic figure in the modern world. She revolutionized careers in aviation for women in America. Sadly, her dream was cut short on 2 July 1937, as her plane disappeared over central Pacific Ocean close to Howland Island. However, her passion for aviation continues to inspire many across the globe.

Post the civil war, America adopted a policy of expanding its territorial influence by means of foreign trade. Such a policy is known as Imperialism.

• Amelia Earhart was the first woman to get U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for flying alone across the Atlantic Ocean.
• Besides being the first woman pilot, she was also an author.
• Besides being an aviation pioneer, Amelia Earhart was an author and a poet too.
• After her engagement with Sam Chapman broke, she composed the following poem.

"Courage is the price which life exacts for granting peace.
The soul that knows it not, knows no release
From little things;
Knows not the livid loneliness of fear
Nor mountain heights, where bitter joy you can hear
The sound of wings.
How can life grant us boon of living, compensate,...

...For dull gray ugliness and pregnant hate
Unless we dare
The soul's dominion? Each time we make a choice we pay
With courage to behold resistless day
And count it fair."

• She met her husband, George Putnam while he was looking out for a lady pilot for Mrs. Frederick Guest of London.
• Their introduction later culminated into marriage and gave Amelia the chance to be the first woman to fly a solo trip across the Atlantic.

• Amelia's nickname was 'Meelie', which was given to her by her younger sister Muriel, because she could not pronounce it. She got her real name Amelia Mary Earhart, after her grandmothers Amelia Harres Otis and Mary Wells Earhart. This was a family tradition.

• Her generosity is seen through her financial help to her California mechanic, who wanted to set up a date fruit farm.
• On 24 July, 1963, the U.S. Post Office issued commemorative airmail of Amelia Earhart 8¢. That day is her birthday.

• After leaving California, she sold her plane to buy a 1922 Kissel Goldbug car, which was called the 'Yellow Peril.
• Amelia had a wooden toy donkey called 'Donk', which accompanied her on several journeys.
• She got $875 as the third prize in the inaugural Powder Puff Woman's Air Derby.

• Amelia Earhart was good friends with Eleanor Roosevelt, who wanted to learn how to fly. The first lady had her student's permit too. However, the dream remained unfinished for both.
• In the same year that she disappeared, Amelia met Orville Wright at Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

• With the help of her uncle, who was fondly called 'Uncle Nicey', Amelia and her sister designed a roller coaster at home. It was inspired from the one at St. Louis World's Fair.
Her pet childhood dog was called James Ferocious, a name which perfectly complemented his temperament.

• On July 2, 1937, her plane, Lockheed Electra 10E, went missing. She and her navigator Fred Noonan were never found despite several search efforts.
• She was finally declared dead on 5 January 1939.

Amelia Earhart was a woman who challenged the stifling norms of femininity. In one of the letter that she sent to George in her Last Flight, she said, Please know I am quite aware of the hazards... I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried.

When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others. Her love for adventure and thrill is definitely one that inspires many all over the world even today. Her passion for taking up daunting tasks remains unmatched even today.