Howard Hughes - Childhood years

 The Hughes birthplace is disputed in various sources as both Humble, Texas and Houston, Texas is given. He also claimed his birthday was Christmas Eve, although some biographers debate his exact birth date, (according to NNDB.com, it was most likely "the more mundane date of September 24"; NNDB in turn refer to his baptismal records, but do not produce them for verification^[1] ). His parents were Allene Stone Gano Hughes (a descendant of Catherine of Valois, Dowager Queen of England, by second husband Owen Tudor) ^[2][3] and Howard R. Hughes, Sr., who patented the tri-cone roller bit, which allowed rotary drilling for oil in previously inaccessible places. Howard R. Hughes, Sr., founded Hughes Tool Company in 1909 to commercialize this invention.

Howard Hughes parents

Hughes grew up under the strong influence of his mother, who was obsessed with protecting her son from all germs and diseases. From his father, Hughes inherited an interest in all things mechanical. Showing great aptitude in engineering at an early age, Hughes erected Houston's first wireless broadcast system when he was 11 years old.^[4] At age 12, Hughes was supposedly photographed in the local newspaper as being the first boy in Houston to have a 'motorized' bicycle, which he had built himself from parts taken from his father's steam engine.^[5] He was an indifferent student with a liking for mathematics and flying, taking flying lessons at 14^[6] and later auditing math and engineering courses at Caltech.^[7]

Orphaned

Allene Hughes died in March 1922, due to complications from an ectopic pregnancy. In January 1924, Howard Hughes, Sr., died of a heart attack. Their deaths apparently inspired Hughes to include the creation of a medical research laboratory in his 1925 will.^{[citation needed]} Because Howard Sr.'s will had not been updated since Allene's death, Hughes inherited 75% of the family fortune.^[8] On his 19th birthday, Hughes was declared an emancipated minor, enabling him to take full control of his legacy. ^[9]

On to Hollywood

Hughes dropped out of Rice University shortly after his father's death. In June 1925, he married Ella Rice, and moved to Hollywood, where Hughes hoped to make a name for himself making movies.