Hugh L. Willoughby

Hugh L. Willoughby (August 7, 1856 - April 4, 1939) was an American adventurer known for his Everglades expedition and his work as an aviation pioneer, specializing in the development of early seaplanes.

[1] Hugh de Laussat Willoughby was born on August 7, 1856, at the family residence Solitude, in the town of Middletown, New York.

[3] Born to wealth, Willoughby lived the life of a sportsman, branching out into scientific exploration and aviation.

Willoughby started his journey by making a test run in an Indian canoe with hunter and guide Ed Brewer in the area of the Miami River.

[10] Willoughby wrote: “It may seem strange, in our days of Arctic and African exploration, for the general public to learn that in our very midst .

in one of our Atlantic coast states, we have a tract of land one hundred and thirty miles long and seventy miles wide that is as much unknown to the white man as the heart of Africa.” In 2022, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Willoughby's expedition, a team is planning to follow the same trek that Willoughby and Brewer took across the Everglades.

Upon his return to the United States, Willoughby became friends with pioneer aviator Orville Wright.

Willoughby built the seaplane called the Pelican with pontoon floats, the tractor engine and his patented double rudders.

He formed the Willoughby Aeroplane Company to design and market high end seaplanes to wealthy sportsman.

The couple had three children: Willoughby died at his home Mandalay on Sewall's Point, Florida on April 4, 1939, at age 82.