Amelia Earhart (born July 24, 1897, Atchison, Kansas, U.S.—disappeared July 2, 1937, near Howland Island, central Pacific Ocean) was an American aviator, one of the world’s most celebrated, who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her disappearance during a flight around the world in 1937 became an enduring mystery, fueling much speculation.

Earhart’s father was a railroad lawyer, and her mother came from an affluent family. While still a child, Earhart displayed an adventurous and independent nature for which she would later become known. 

Earhart entered the premed program at Columbia University in New York but left in 1920 after her parents insisted she live with them in California. There she went on her first airplane ride in 1920, an experience that prompted her to take flying lessons. In 1921 she bought her first plane, a Kinner Airster, and two years later she earned her pilot’s license. 

On June 17, 1928, Amelia Earhart departed from Trepassey, Newfoundland, Canada aboard the seaplane Friendship. Although she was officially named the flight’s commander, poor weather and limited visibility prevented her from taking the controls as planned.
She completed the transatlantic journey as a passenger, while maintaining the flight log.

Determined to justify the renown that her 1928 crossing had brought her, Earhart crossed the Atlantic alone on May 20–21, 1932 in a record time of 14 hours 56 minutes .