John Joseph Montgomery was born in Yuba City, California, USA, on 15 February 1858. After graduating from St.Ignatius College (now the University of San Francisco) as a lawyer he entered the law profession but failed. He tried storekeeping but failed.
Montgomery graduated from St. Ignatius College in San Francisco in 1879. He is often referred to as a Professor, though it is believed he didn’t have a Ph.D. He was the son of a former assistant attorney-general of the US. Two of his college classmates were James D. Phelar, mayor of San Francisco (1896-1902) and Rev. R.H. Bell, well known for his work in wireless telegraphy.
At his family ranch near San Diego he studied the flight of birds. He tried building three ornithopters with flapping wings, which failed.
At 25, he built a fixed wing glider with his sisters and younger brother assisting with the fabric. With this glider, on 20 August 1883, he soared 602 feet.
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