The sad story of a talented researcher who, by the will of fate, went down in history as the first victim of a traffic accident (5 photos)

More than 3.5 thousand a person in the world dies in a day in a road accident. And this a solid number, allowing to place mortality in the eighth place in general list of reasons. But such an indicator can be explained by a huge amount vehicles without which the life of a modern person is unthinkable.





In the era when the automotive industry was just starting was developing, everything was different. There were no traffic rules, and wagons, pedestrians, and single cars coexisted on the roads.

The name of the first victim of a traffic accident has been preserved in history. It was a woman and outstanding abilities. For that time, studying science for representatives of the weaker sex were almost akin to a miracle.



Nicolas-José Cugno

It is believed that the first car was built in 1769 Nicolas-Jose Cugnot, an engineer from France. Then the successors picked up baton and continued the topic, building constructions on electricity, gasoline and steam traction. Among them was the family Parsons. One of his representatives built a wagon with steam traction. IN Mary Ward was a close relative of this family. About a sad fate which is what I'm talking about.





Mary Ward

For the first half of the century before last, the manifestation of interest in science was akin to a feat. At that time, it was believed that the weaker sex basically incapable of serious intellectual activity. But the girl lived among intellectuals, did not need money, therefore, she was able to calmly engage in what was interesting to her.

For some time she was one of only three women which were listed in the Royal Astronomical mailing list society Colleagues on the list were an astronomer from the USA and, for a moment, english queen

In her youth, the girl loved to look through the microscope at various things things and objects. And at the age of 17, she built her own. And even more very powerful By the age of 40, interest in science was forced to cool down. Marriage it turned out not to be very successful due to the hubris of the husband. Besides, it was necessary take care of children born out of wedlock.



Mary fell from such a car

At the end of the summer of 1869, Ward and her family went abroad visiting the city on a steam car. The number of those wishing to ride will increase clearly exceeded the capacity of the machine, and, accordingly, created prerequisites for road accidents.

The car either made a sharp turn or jumped on a hill. I the woman who flew out was hit by a wheel right on her head. Arriving at the place the accident doctor only confirmed death.

According to rumors, the owners of the vehicle disassembled the ego to the screw and buried it, so that it would not spare anyone else's life.



At the time of her death, Mary was a mother of many children, tormented by everyday life and problems. And, what is sad, a few years after her death, it happened the widower got better, he became a peer, the family stopped needing money If it weren't for a fatal accident, the woman could have done it continue working in your favorite direction and go down in history somehow inventor or researcher, not the first victim of a road accident.