Boeing is an aerospace manufacturer founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing, a Yale-educated timber merchant and aviation enthusiast. Operating from a converted boat house on Lake Union in Seattle, the company began by building seaplanes and has since grown into a multinational enterprise serving customers worldwide across three primary sectors: commercial aviation, defense systems, and space exploration.
In commercial aviation, Boeing designs and manufactures aircraft for global carriers, with the 747 standing as a notable milestone in the company's development of wide-body airliners. The defence division develops systems to support government and military customers. In space, Boeing contributes to programmes including the International Space Station and manufactures the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for human spaceflight missions.
Beyond manufacturing, Boeing provides comprehensive services alongside its product offerings. The company has operated for over a century, reshaping multiple industrial sectors through advances in aircraft design, aerospace engineering, and space systems development.
