Born on February 3rd, 1859 German engineer Hugo Junkers was as innovative as he was inspiring. He was a manufacturer of heating appliances until, at age 50, he revealed his true passion - aeronautical engineering.
Born and raised in Rheydt in the Rhine Province of Germany, he was the third of seven sons. After finishing his school education in 1878 went on to the Technical University of Berlin where he studied engineering. After several moves between major universities he graduated with the official title "Baufuehrer" in 1883. Until 1897 Junkers spent time working his father's textile company in Rheydt as well as continuing his education, and became a professor of mechanical engineering at Aachen from 1897-1912. With his work as an engineer he patented the inventions of gas engines, heaters, and a calorie meter, among others.
During WWI he was forced by the government to focus only on aircraft production. He developed the world's first all metal aircraft design, the Junkers J1 ("Blechesel")in 1915, and the world's first low winged single seat fighter aircraft, the Junkers D.I., in 1918. He also produced the Junkers CL.I., a two seat fighter that sat a pilot and a rear gunner, and the Junkers J.I., a two seated armored-fuselage all metal sesquiplane, which was considered Germany's best ground attack aircraft of the war.
Junker's corrugated light metal construction philosophy became a source of guidance and inspiration in the development of earlier aircraft by engineers such as Andrei Tupolev and William Stout. By 1918, with the collaboration of Anthony Fokker, nearly 400 military aircraft were built.
After the war, unable to repay government loans, Junkers began losing control of his businesses and in 1933 the Nazis took them over completely. He died on his 76th birthday.
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