William Boeing was born in Detroit Michigan on October 1, 1881. He attended school in Europe and then Yale University which he dropped out from to go into the lumber business. His business which was located in the Pacific Northwest succeeded. Boeing saw a demonstration of the early aircraft and decided to learn to fly, which he did. He bought a plane. When it was damaged and he was told it would be months to receive a new plane he decided he could build his own plane which he did thus founding in 1916, what would become the world's largest manufacturer of commercial aircrafts.
Begun as the Pacific Nero Products Co. in Seattle, it became Boeing Aircraft in 1929. By 1934, Boeing had been awarded the Guggenheim Medal in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the aviation industry.