David Schwarz

Who was David Schwarz?

David Schwarz was a Hungarian-Croatian aviation pioneer of Jewish descent. He is known for creating the first airship with an external hull made entirely of metal, but he died before it was flown. Some sources have claimed that Count Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin purchased Schwarz's airship patent from his widow, a claim which has been disputed. He was the father of the opera and operetta soprano Vera Schwarz.

Sources for his date of birth vary. The OCLC cites Rotem, Ẓ. giving it as 7 December 1850, while Brockhaus gives it as 20 December 1850 The OCLC, as well as Brockhaus, show Schwarz's place of birth as Zalaegerszeg, Ungarn. However, in the mid-19th century Zalaegerszeg's national association was unclear.

Sources do not agree regarding Schwarz's nationality: some claim Austrian, others Croatian or Hungarian.