The History: Wilbur and Orville believed that Octave Chanute's assistant, Augustus Herring, was a rascal. Wilbur write to Chanute in September, 1902 that Herring's "somewhat jealous disposition, and possibly inclined to claim for himself rather more credit than those with whom he might be working would be willing to allow." However, the Wrights never expected to receive this letter from Herring!

In the letter, Herring claims that he is the "ORIGINATOR" of Chanute's two surface machine and suggests that his own work contributed to the Wrights' success. He asks for a share in a partnership with the Wrights: the division will be 2/3 for the Wrights and 1/3 to Herring. He tells the Wrights that this relationship could avoid unpleasant patent suits [law suits] against the Wright.

Copy Of The Letter August Herring Sent To The Wright Brothers (December 26, 1903) With Permission From Special Collections Wright State University Libraries Click On The Letters For A Larger Version

Chanute would later write Wilbur, "I am amazed at his impudence in asking for 1/3 of your invention."

This would be the first of many letters, claims and patent suits demanding credit and rights to the brothers' invention.

Even years later (November 8, 1929), Orville would write to a W. A. Crawford-Frost "I beg to acknowledge receipt of your surprising letter of November 5th in which you ask me to recognize you as the inventor of the aeroplane. Never before having heard of you or your inventions I can hardly do this".

Quotations from the book The Papers of Wilbur and Orville Wright, Volume 1 by M. McFarland.