Robert Loraine

Robert Loraine (14 January 1876 - 23 December 1935) was a successful London and Broadway stage actor, actor-manager and soldier who later enjoyed a side career as a pioneer aviator. Born in New Brighton, Liscard, Cheshire, England, his father was Henry Loraine and Robert made his first stage appearance in the English provinces in 1889. He served in the Boer War (1899-1902). He introduced the George Bernard Shaw play Man and Superman to Broadway in 1905.

Theatrical career
Loraine was a versatile actor and was successful both in serious plays and in popular works of light entertainment. He was particularly associated with the works of George Bernard Shaw, taking over the role of John Tanner from Harley Granville Barker in the fourth run of Man and Superman at the Royal Court theatre. He also won critical acclaim for performances in plays by William Shakespeare and August Strindberg.

Aviation
In 1909 Loraine took up the new technology of aviation learning first to fly at the Bleriot school at Pau, France. He then switched to the easier to fly Farman biplane, on which he achieved great fame. In September 1910 he made what is credited as being the first aeroplane flight from England to Ireland, although he actually came down in the sea about 200 feet (60 metres) from the shore. The same month he piloted one of the two Bristol Boxkites which took part in the British Army manouevres on Salisbury Plain, during which he sent the first radio signals to be sent from an aeroplane in Britain. His diary is cited by the Oxford English Dictionary as the first written example of the word joystick to describe aircraft stick controls.

Miitary career
Loraine served as a volunteer in the Boer War between 1899 and 1901.

During the First World War he flew with the Royal Flying Corps, winning the MC and the DSO in 1917 and twice being seriously wounded, and commanded 40 Squadron. During his service he did not entirely abandon the theatre, running a drama society in his squadron, which performed the premiere performance of Shaw's play O'Flaherty V.C. at Treizeenes in Belgium. By the end of the war he had reached the rank of lieutenant-general.

Personal life
In 1901 he married Julie Opp. After their divorce he married Winifred Lydia, daughter of Sir Robert Strangman in 1901. They had three daughters.

Selected filmography

 * Bentley's Conscience (1922)
 * S.O.S. (1928)
 * Birds of Prey (1930)