Lawrence Sperry Lawrence Sperry Lawrence Burst Sperry (21 December 1892, Chicago, Illinois, United States – December 13, 1923, English Channel) was an aviation pioneer. He was the third son of the gyrocompass co-inventor, Elmer Ambrose Sperry and his wife Zula. Sperry invented the first autopilot, which he demonstrated with startling success in France in 1914. Sperry is also credited with developing the artificial horizon still used on most aircraft in the early 21st century. On 13 December 1923 Sperry took off amid fog in a Verville-Sperry M-1 Messenger from the United Kingdom headed for France but never reached his destination. His body
International Tennis Club of Washington International Tennis Club of Washington The International Tennis Club of Washington plays real tennis on Prince's Court at the Regency Sport and Health Club in McLean, Virginia, 6 miles (10 km) from Washington, D.C. Dedicated on October 11, 1997, Prince's is the only new real tennis venue to be constructed in the United States since the Racquet Club of Chicago was built in 1923. (The Chicago court has since been renovated and renewed.) The court, named after financial supporter and club co-founder Frederick H. Prince, features an 18 foot (5.5 m) high main wall made of plate glass giving spectators