John Henry Mears

John Henry Mears (May 22, 1878 – July 26, 1956) set the record for the fastest trip around the world both in 1913 and 1928. He was also a Broadway producer.

John Henry Mears
Born(1878-05-22)May 22, 1878
Massachusetts
DiedJuly 26, 1956(1956-07-26) (aged 78)
Los Angeles, CA
NationalityAmerican
Other namesJ. H. Mears
Known forEstablished a record, fastest trip around the world.

Biography

He was born on May 22, 1878 in Massachusetts.

On July 2, 1913, he left New York City on the RMS Mauretania, then traveled by a combination of steamers, yachts, and trains to circumnavigate the Earth and reach New York City again on August 6, 1913. He had an elapsed time of 35 days, 21 hours, 35 minutes, 18 and four-fifths seconds. His world record stood for 13 years.[1][2] In 1928, he set the record again at 23 days 15 hours 21 minutes and 3 seconds.[1] In the same year he wrote an autobiography called Racing the Moon.

After the Graf Zeppelin broke his record in 1929, he made one last attempt in 1930. He had to abandon the trip after the airplane he was on was damaged during takeoff.[1]

He died at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles on July 26, 1956.[3]

1913 Itinerary
  • United States: New York City from the offices of the New York Sun newspaper on July 2, 1913
  • Atlantic crossing: via the steamer "Mauretania"
  • England: Fishguard, London & Dover via train
  • France: Calais via channel steamer, Paris via train
  • Germany: Berlin via train
  • Russia: St Petersburg & Omsk via train
  • China: Harbin, Manchuria & Mukden via train
  • Korea: Pusan via train
  • Japan: Shimonoseki via steamer & Tokyo via train
  • Pacific crossing: via the steamer "Empress of Russia"
  • Canada: Victoria, British Columbia where he left steamer en route and boarded a yacht. Left yacht en route and boarded a hydroplane
  • United States: Seattle, Washington, St Paul, Minnesota, Chicago Illinois, Cleveland, Ohio & New York City back to the offices of the New York Sun newspaper via train
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References
  1. Glines, Carroll V. Round-the-world flights, Ch. 2 (3rd ed. 2003) (ISBN 978-1574884487)
  2. "J. H. Mears Issues $5,000 Challenge". Hartford Courant. July 25, 1914. Retrieved 2009-10-31. John Henry Mears, who holds the world's record for circling the globe - thirty-five days, twenty-one hours, thirty-five minutes, eighteen and four-fifths seconds, which is somewhat less than that made in Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days" - is anxious, to bet $5,000 that he can ...
  3. "John Henry Mears Dies. Former Theatrical Manager Set Globe-Circling Record in '13". New York Times. 27 July 1956. Retrieved 2010-12-24. John Henry Mears, theatrical manager and producer, traveler and adventurer, died today in Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital
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