Robur is a brilliant inventor who creates the airship known as The Albatross, and wishes to unify the world under his own command. He plants his flag, a black flag with a golden sun emblem, on top of historical landmarks throughout the world, including the Statue of Liberty, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the Eiffel Tower. He is somewhat of an ego maniac, and when he visits the Weldon Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he lacks any tact in trying to convince the members of the institute that aircraft need not be lighter than air. After being attacked by members of the institute, Robur disappears, and later returns, kidnapping the president and secretary of the group, to try to convince them of the wonder of the Albatross. However, the two men refuse to accept the superiority of his v