About Marthe Niel
Lived 1878 – 1928 (aged 49). Marthe Niel was a French aircraft pilot.
Marthe Niel (29 December 1878 – 18 November 1928) was a French aviator, becoming the second woman in the world to earn an aeroplane pilot's licence on 19 September 1910.
Early life Niel was born Marie-Ange Denieul in Le Cannée, a hamlet in the commune of Paimpont, Ille-et-Vilaine. She was the daughter of Joachim Denieul, a farm worker, and his wife Marie-Joseph Saget. On 9 May 1900, she married Pierre Firmin Fontalbat, a wine merchant, after which she worked as a cook. They divorced on 4 February 1904.
Career as an aviator In April 1910, she was admitted to the piloting school founded by aeroplane builder Paul Koechlin at Mourmelon-le-Grand.
On 19 September 1910, after flying a Koechlin monoplane, she received Licence No. 226 from the Aéro-Club de France.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Marthe Niel?
French aviator
When was Marthe Niel born?
Marthe Niel was born on 29 December 1878 in Paimpont.
When did Marthe Niel die?
Marthe Niel died on 18 November 1928 in Rennes.
What was Marthe Niel's occupation?
Marthe Niel was an aircraft pilot.
What nationality was Marthe Niel?
Marthe Niel was French.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Marthe Niel. https://biography.guide/marthe-niel/
MLA: "Marthe Niel." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/marthe-niel/.
Chicago: "Marthe Niel." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/marthe-niel/.
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