Skip to content ↓

View entry

Back to search results

Name: BOYCE, William Dickson

image of individual

Birth Date: 16 June 1858 Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA

Death Date: 11 June 1929 Chicago

First Date: 1909

Profession: A millionaire newspaper publisher from Chicago, he led the Balloonograph Expedition from Chicago, and as far as it is known, it was the first attempt ever made to ascend in a balloon in EA.

Area: Nairobi, Kijabe

Married: 1. In Pittsburgh 1 Jan 1884 Mary Jane Beacon (div.1908) (19 Apr 1865-% July 1959 Monterey); 2. In Oak Park Illinois 23 May 1910 Virginia Dorcas Lee (div. 1912) (1882 Chicago-23 Oct 1959 New York); 3. 11 June 1912 Miriam Patterson

Children: 1. Benjamin Stevens (8 Nov 1884-1928); dau Happy (14 Mar 1886-1976); dau Sydney (1 Jan 1889-1950) 2. Virginia (Roberts) (Dec 1911)

Book Reference: Gillett, McCutcheon, Binks, Coast Causerie, Hut, Into Africa, Mills, Chandler

School: Wooster Academy, Ohio

General Information:

The balloon expedition was a complete fiasco, for, although the balloon did rise a few hundred feet, it was soon down to earth again.   
McCutcheon - party of 7 white men were preparing for the balloonograph photographic expedition in the Sotik. They had 2 balloons and a great number of box kites and 29 cameras. The McCutcheon party went up in a balloon in Nairobi.  
Coast Causerie - Account of the Balloonatics in Nairobi
Hut - leased Aggett farm, partners George Lawrence & Raymond L.
Founded Boy Scouts of America

Back to search results