List of inventors killed by their own inventions

CHASHA FARMING

JF-Expert Member
Jun 4, 2011
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This is a list of inventors whose deaths were in some manner caused by or related to a product, process, procedure, or other innovation that they invented or designed
NameNationalityInventionYear of DeathCause of Death
☛ Li SiChineseThe Five Pains208 B.C.He was executed by his own method of execution after being convicted of treason.
☛ James DouglasScottishScottish Maiden1581He was beheaded on the Scottish Maiden he invented.
☛ Henry WinstanleyBritishEddystone Lighthouse1703He died in his lighthouse during the Great Storm of 1703.
☛ Jean-François Pilâtre de RozierFrenchRozière Balloon1785He died when the balloon crashed while trying to cross the English Channel on its second flight.
☛ Horace Lawson HunleyAmericanSubmarine named H. L. Hunley1863He died in the 2nd failed attempt to use it.
☛ William BullockAmericanRotary Printing Press1867His foot got caught in the press contraption, developed gangrene that led to his death 4 days later.
☛ Cowper Phipps ColesBritishTurret Ship1870He died when his ship sunk due to overload.
☛ Otto LilienthalGermanHang Glider1896He died due to a 56 feet (17 m) fall when his glider lost lift during a flight.
☛ William NelsonAmericanMotorized Bicycle1903He died when he fell off his motorized bicycle while testing it in General Electric.
☛ Franz ReicheltAustrianOvercoat Parachute1912His death was due to fall from Eiffel Tower during a demonstration on 4th February.
☛ Thomas AndrewsIrishArchitect of Titanic1912He died when the Titanic capsized on its maiden voyage in April.
☛ Aurel VlaicuRomanianVlaicu II Airplane1913He died when his plane crashed on the Carpathian Mountains.
☛ Valerian AbakovskyLatvianAerowagon1921He died when the Aerowagon derailed during the test ride.
☛ John Godfrey Parry-ThomasWelshBabs Car1927His death occurred when the car's right hand drive chain broke in a race which led to a fatal head injury.
☛ Alexander BogdanovRussianBlood Transfusion1928He died when the blood in the 12th transfusion done on himself was contaminated (some say the blood group was incompatible).
☛ Max ValierGermanLiquid-fueled Rocket Engine1930He died when one of the liquid-fueled engines exploded on his lab desk.
☛ Marie CuriePolishRadium, Polonium and Theory of Radioactivity1934She died of aplastic anemia caused due to constant exposure to radioactive elements.
☛ Thomas Midgley, Jr.AmericanMechanical Bed with pulleys1944His death was due to lead poisoning and strangulation by ropes on his mechanical bed.
☛ Harry K. Daghlian, Jr.AmericanAtom Bomb1945They died due to acute radiation caused by lab accidents involving the same plutonium sphere.
☛ Louis SlotinCanadianAtom Bomb1946
☛ Donald M. CampbellBritishMotorboat Speed Engine1966He died when his motorboat (with the speed engine) capsized in a race.
☛ Henry SmolinskiAmericanFlying Car1973During a flight, the right wing of the car came off, resulting in a crash and the inventor's death.
☛ Karel SoucekCanadianWater Capsule1985He succumbed to injuries caused when his capsule capsized on its second test.
☛ Michael DacreBritishFlying Taxi2009He died when his flying taxi crashed during the test flight.
☛ James (Jimi) HeseldenBritishSegway Gyrobike (Owner)2010He died when he fell off an 80 feet cliff after the Segway scooter he was riding lost balance.

It would be utter cowardice to say that it is better to keep 'thinking' instead of 'doing' just because some were unfortunate enough to pay with their lives for their creativity. Besides, many of the inventions mentioned above have played an important role in the development of man. Maybe the dying words of one such inventor (Otto Lilienthal) best describes the significance of losing a life for an invention - "Sacrifices must be made."
 
True sacrifice ni lazima ifanyike, huku ndo kujitoa mhanga, inashangaza sana kama hawa waliweza kujitolea kufa kwa faida ya wengine leo hii sisi hata kuanzisha kibanda cha kuchaji simu mtu anaogopa, kama hawa waliweza kufa sembuse kufilisika,
 
Ritz Mbona hakuna Muiran yeyote? na misifa yao ya kucopy and Paste
 
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It seems most of inventions were made by people of Caucasian origin, Should we say that they are superior more than other races?
 
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