Portal:American Civil War/Selected biography/44

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Thaddeus Sobieski Constantine Lowe (August 20, 1831 - January 16, 1913), was an American Civil War aeronaut, scientist and inventor. Lowe lived a life that was full of claims to fame. Despite being born of poor pioneer farming stock, Lowe showed an interest in meteorology with his intent study of the winds and cloud movements. He particularly recognized the strong easterly, high altitude wind which gave him a notion of flying in it. As an older teenager Lowe became fascinated with the properties of lighter-than-air gases, in particular, hydrogen. By age 21 he took up aviation, which at the time was piloting balloons. Between his chemistry lecturing and giving balloon rides he was able to put enough money together for a formal education thus furthering his studies in chemistry, meteorology, and aviation. By the late 1850s he was well known for his advanced theories in the meteorological sciences as well as his balloon building. Among his aspirations he made plans for a transatlantic flight via the high lofting winds, known today as the Jet Stream.

Lowe's scientific endeavors were cut short by the onset of the American Civil War. He recognized his patriotic duty in offering his services as an aeronaut for the purposes of performing aerial reconnaissance on the Confederate troops on behalf of the Union Army. In July 1861 Lowe was appointed Chief Aeronaut of the Union Army Balloon Corps by President Abraham Lincoln. Though his work was generally successful, it was not fully appreciated by all members of the military, and disputes over his operations and pay scale forced him to resign in 1863. Lowe returned to the private sector and continued his scientific exploration of hydrogen gas manufacturing. He invented the water gas process by which large amounts of hydrogen gas could be produced from steam and charcoal. His inventions and patents on this process and ice making machines made him a millionaire.