The History: Today, Octave Chanute wrote a letter of introduction for [a letter introducing] Mr. Patrick Alexander of England to the Wright brothers. Chanute referred to Alexander as "one of the leaders in aeronautical investigations". [Alexander was an important and wealthy member of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain.] Chanute told the Wrights, Alexander wanted to meet the brothers while he was visiting in the United States. He felt the Wrights would enjoy meeting Alexander.

Alexander did visit with the Wrights on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1902 at their house on Hawthorne Street. They became friends. Alexander would be the only other person besides Chanute and George Spratt the Wrights would invite to their Kill Devil Hills campsite in 1903. [The Wright Flyer, the first successful powered aircraft, would be built here.]

Alexander spent a good deal of his fortune advancing aeronautics in England. He discussed the Wrights progress with the British aeronautical society. This encouraged the British military to suggest the possible construction of a Wright machine for their government in 1904.

Quotation from the book The Papers of Wilbur and Orville Wright, Volume 1 by M. McFarland.