Buzz
Throughout history, there have been countless brilliant minds—from remarkable scientists to visionary inventors. However, a rare few found themselves victims of the very innovations they helped bring into existence. Whether through unintended consequences or malfunctioning designs, here are 10 individuals who met an unfortunate fate due to their own genius.
10. James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, who lived from 1525 to 1581, was one of the final regents of Scotland during King James VI's reign. Among his contributions to Scotland was the introduction of the Maiden, an execution device resembling the more well-known guillotine. The Maiden was considered a more humane way of executing someone compared to decapitation with a sword.
In 1580, Douglas faced serious accusations when Captain James Stuart accused him of being involved in the murder of Lord Darnley in 1567. Darnley's house had been blown up, but his body was discovered in the garden. The most plausible explanation is that he managed to survive the explosion, only to be strangled as he attempted to flee.
Despite his protests of innocence, Douglas was found guilty. He was executed for high treason using the Maiden, the very device he had helped popularize.
9. Thomas Andrews
Thomas Andrews, born in 1873, developed a passion for sailing as a young boy. At just 16, he became an apprentice at the Harland and Wolff shipyard, where he gained extensive knowledge about ship design and construction. To further his skills, he attended night classes at the Belfast College of Technology to become a ship designer. By 28, he had risen to lead the design department.
In 1908, Andrews was responsible for designing two ships: the Olympic and the ill-fated Titanic. During the Titanic‘s maiden voyage across the Atlantic in 1912, he was onboard to observe and suggest improvements to the ship.
With his deep understanding of the vessel, Andrews was the first to realize the severity of the damage caused when the Titanic struck the iceberg. He informed the captain that the ship was certain to sink.
As the ship sank, Andrews dedicated his time to assisting others to safety in the lifeboats. Ultimately, he lost his life aboard the very ship he had designed.
8. Aurel Vlaicu
Aurel Vlaicu, a Romanian inventor born in 1882 and who lived until 1913, is widely regarded as a pioneer in Romanian aviation. Throughout his life, he designed numerous flying machines. His first creation featured flapping wings, but he eventually abandoned the concept, recognizing that engine-powered aircraft were the way forward.
In 1909, Aurel and his brother constructed a glider capable of maintaining a height of 10–15 meters (35–50 ft). Later that same year, he developed the plans for a model called The Bug, which featured an engine powered by twisted rubber cords to turn a propeller.
The success of The Bug captured the attention of influential figures, who decided to fund Aurel’s aviation ambitions. With their support, Aurel went on to create the Vlaicu I, making history as the first Romanian aircraft engineer during its successful test flight on June 17, 1910.
This success garnered even more backing, which allowed Aurel to construct the Vlaicu II in early 1911. He flew the Vlaicu II across Romania, showcasing the power of aviation to the public.
On September 13, 1913, Aurel took the Vlaicu II over the Carpathian Mountains to participate in an event hosted by the Transylvanian Association for the Literature and Culture of the Romanian People (ASTRA). For reasons that remain unclear, the plane crashed, resulting in Aurel's death at the age of 31.
7. Henry Smolinski
In 1971, Henry Smolinski and his partner Hal Blake embarked on a venture in the flying car industry. They created the AVE Mizar by removing the wings from a Cessna Skymaster and attaching them to a Ford Pinto.
The goal wasn’t to create a car that could fly anywhere. Instead, the idea was for the driver to fly the car from one airport to another using the wings, then detach them to drive on the road. Essentially, it was more of a plane that could be converted into a car rather than a vehicle for quick trips to the store.
However, there was an issue with the concept of detachable wings: they might detach unintentionally. That’s exactly what happened during a routine flight. The wings separated mid-air, and both inventors tragically died in the resulting crash, halting the progress of flying car technology.
6. Valerian Abakovski
Latvian inventor Valerian Abakovski developed the Aerowagon in 1921. Before that, he had worked as a chauffeur for the Cheka, where it is believed that he proposed the idea of the Aerowagon to his superiors. They were reportedly impressed with his concept of a train car powered by a high-speed airplane propeller attached to its front.
After a test model was constructed, Valerian embarked on the maiden voyage accompanied by Fyodor Sergeyev, a close associate of Stalin, and four foreign communist sympathizers invited by Sergeyev. The Aerowagon successfully traveled from Moscow to Tula. However, on the return trip, the Aerowagon derailed at high speed, resulting in the death of everyone aboard. The six passengers were later interred in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis.
5. Max Valier
Max Valier, an early rocket scientist, gained recognition for his work in the 1920s and 1930s. At the time, rocket technology was still in its experimental stages, and testing these innovations came with significant risks. Nevertheless, Max was passionate about the potential of rocket engineering and hoped to inspire others to share his vision for the future.
In order to secure public support and government funding, he devised small-scale projects to showcase his ideas. For instance, he attached rockets to sleds and race cars. While these were suitable for demonstrations, Max's true dream was to use rockets to take people to the stars. This led him to experiment with the then-nascent concept of liquid propellants.
One of his experiments involved using kerosene and water in combination with liquid oxygen. Although he neglected safety measures, Max successfully conducted two tests without incident. The results thrilled him, leading him to push for a third and final test. This test ended in a violent explosion, sending shrapnel into Max’s pulmonary artery and killing him within minutes.
Although Max's life was tragically cut short at the age of 35, he does hold a unique distinction. He is recognized as the first individual to lose his life in the field of rocket engineering.
4. Frederick Duesenberg
Frederick Duesenberg, born in 1876, was the brilliant inventor behind the Marvel automobile, which he built in 1904 with the assistance of his brother. Together, they went on to create the two-cylinder Hill Climber in 1906, with financial support from a dedicated backer.
The brothers' breakthrough came when they ventured into the world of race cars. Establishing the Duesenberg Motor Company, they produced cars of exceptional quality—so remarkable that seven out of the ten cars that crossed the finish line in the 1921 Indianapolis 500 were Duesenberg creations.
Because of their success, some believe the term “doozy”—used to describe something extraordinary—originated from the name “Duesenberg.”
In 1932, while driving one of his own cars through the mountains of Pennsylvania, Frederick lost control and crashed. Unfortunately, he succumbed to complications at the hospital.
3. Michael Dacre
In 2009, Michael Dacre attempted to bring the concept of the Jetpod, a “flying taxi,” into the mainstream. This compact aircraft could take off and land on short strips, allowing it to navigate over cities and avoid traffic congestion.
The Jetpod was a VQSTOL (Very Quiet Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft capable of cruising at 500 kilometers per hour (310 mph). A flight from Heathrow Airport to Central London, covering around 25 kilometers (15 mi), would have cost approximately £40 ($65).
However, during a test flight in August 2009, witnesses reported that the vehicle had trouble lifting off the runway. Once airborne, it became uncontrollable at around 200 meters (650 ft), ultimately crashing back to the ground. Tragically, 53-year-old Dacre lost his life in the accident.
2. Francis Edgar Stanley
Born in 1849, Francis Edgar Stanley quickly found his passion for invention. Initially a teacher, he shifted to a career as a portrait artist. Stanley's fascination with technology led him to create a method to atomize paint—ultimately leading to the invention of the airbrush—which he used to craft lifelike black-and-white portraits.
Inspired by steam locomotives, Stanley created the Stanley Steamer, a steam-powered vehicle introduced in 1897. The car garnered significant attention, especially after setting a remarkable speed record of 43 kilometers per hour (27 mph) at an automobile exhibition in Boston.
On July 31, 1918, Francis was driving south in one of his Stanley Steamers when he encountered an obstruction in the road. Attempting to avoid it, he lost control of the vehicle, crashed into a woodpile, and overturned. Unfortunately, he passed away before reaching the hospital.
1. Li Si
Li Si, born in 280 BC, was a prominent Chinese Legalist during the Qin dynasty. In 247 BC, he entered the Qin state and began serving as a minister under King Zheng.
Li's contributions included assisting the emperor in standardizing coin weights, supporting the construction of the Great Wall, influencing a unified writing system, and promoting the controversial act of burning history books.
He also devised a brutal execution method known as the Five Pains. It involved severing the victim’s nose, one hand, and one foot, followed by castration and finally, cutting the body in half at the waist.
King Zheng eventually became the first emperor of China, taking the title Qin Shi Huang. Upon his death, Li conspired to help Zhao Gao, a eunuch, seize the throne, despite King Zheng’s wish for Fu Su to rule.
Together with Zhao and Hu Hai, King Zheng’s son, Li forged a decree condemning Fu Su for his failure to contribute to the state, leading to Fu’s suicide. Zhao ascended to power, but betrayed Li by accusing him of treason. As a result, Li was subjected to the Five Pains and executed in 208 BC.
