Amelia Earhart: A Detailed Biography

Amelia Mary Earhart (1897–1937, declared dead 1939) was the pioneering aviator who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and attempted the first female circumnavigation of the globe. Courageous, stylish, and fiercely independent, she shattered gender barriers and inspired generations before mysteriously vanishing over the Pacific. This biography covers her Kansas childhood, record-breaking flights, 1937 world flight attempt, and the enduring mystery of her disappearance, as documented by the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine, and the TIGHAR – The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery.

Early Life in Kansas

Birth in Atchison

Born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, to lawyer Samuel “Edwin” Earhart and Amy Otis, Amelia spent a tomboy childhood climbing trees and hunting rats with a rifle. The family moved frequently due to her father’s alcoholism.

First Flight and Aviation Passion

In December 1920, pilot Frank Hawks gave 23-year-old Amelia a 10-minute flight in California — “By the time I got two or three hundred feet off the ground, I knew I had to fly.” She took lessons from pioneer aviatrix Neta Snook and bought her first plane in 1921, as documented by the Ninety-Nines.

Transatlantic Fame (1928 & 1932)

In 1928 Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic — as a passenger. Unhappy with “just baggage” status, she flew solo nonstop from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland on May 20–21, 1932, in 14 hours 56 minutes — earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, as preserved by the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

Records and Celebrity

Earhart set numerous records: first woman to fly solo Hawaii to California (1935), first to fly solo Los Angeles to Mexico City and Mexico City to New York (1935). She wrote best-selling books and became a global celebrity, as detailed by the Purdue University Earhart Collection.

1937 Around-the-World Flight

In June 1937, aged 39, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan attempted to fly around the world in a Lockheed Electra 10E. After 22,000 miles, they left Lae, New Guinea, on July 2 heading for tiny Howland Island. They never arrived. The largest search in U.S. naval history found nothing, as chronicled by the U.S. Navy History.

Theories of Disappearance

Leading theory: ran out of fuel and ditched near Howland Island. Alternative theories: crashed on Nikumaroro (Gardner Island) and died as castaways, or captured by the Japanese. No conclusive evidence has been found, as analysed by the National Geographic.

Personal Life

Married publisher George Putnam in 1931 after he proposed six times. No children. Known for wearing trousers and short hair — a feminist icon before the term existed.

Death and Legacy

Amelia Earhart’s Enduring Impact

Declared dead in absentia on January 5, 1939, Earhart’s disappearance remains one of history’s greatest mysteries. She was the first president of the Ninety-Nines (women pilots’ organisation) and a Purdue University career advisor. Her image graces stamps, coins, and the $10 Northern Mariana Islands quarter. The Amelia Earhart Fellowship and multiple museums honour her, as celebrated by the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum.

Frequently Asked Questions About Amelia Earhart

Why Is Amelia Earhart Famous?

First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and attempted the first female circumnavigation.

What Happened to Amelia Earhart?

Vanished July 2, 1937, over the Pacific — likely ran out of fuel near Howland Island.

Where Was Amelia Earhart Born?

Atchison, Kansas, July 24, 1897.

Who Was Fred Noonan?

Her navigator on the final flight — disappeared with her.

Did Amelia Earhart Have Children?

No — married George Putnam in 1931.

Was Amelia Earhart the First Woman to Fly?

No — but first to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic (1932).

How Did Amelia Earhart Die?

Disappeared July 2, 1937; declared dead 1939 — cause unknown.