Ferdinand von Zeppelin


Ferdinand von Zeppelin
Zeppelin in 1917
Native name
Ferdinand Adolf Heinrich August Graf von Zeppelin
Born8 July 1838
Konstanz, Grand Duchy of Baden
Died8 March 1917(1917-03-08) (aged 78)
Charlottenburg, German Empire
AllegianceKingdom of Württemberg (18551917)
German Empire (18711917)
BranchCavalry
Years of service1855-1891
RankGeneral der Kavallerie
Commands19th Uhlans
Spouse(s)
Isabella Freiin von Wolff
(m. 1869)
Signature

Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin (German: Ferdinand Adolf Heinrich August Graf von Zeppelin; 8 July 1838 – 8 March 1917) was a German general and later inventor of the Zeppelin rigid airships. His name became synonymous with airships and dominated long-distance flight until the 1930s. He founded the company Luftschiffbau Zeppelin.