England from the Artillery ground, Finsbury, by Count Zambeccari. The
balloon was found 48 miles away near Petworth.
September
15, 1784 The first person ascended in a Balloon in Britain when
Lunardi ascended from the Artillery Ground, Moorfield. He took his cat,
dog and a pigeon. The image to the left is 'an exact representation'
of Lunardi in his balloon. No sign of the dog or cat though. That's
probably just as well, I'm sure they were alarmed by the whole thing.
You can read about this balloon ascension here.
March 23, 1785 Count Zambeccari ascends with Admiral Sir Edward Vernon.
June 29, 1785 The first Englishwoman, Mrs. Sage, ascends.
July 5, 1802 M. Ganeri made a number of ascents around
London this year, on
July 5th he parachutes down from one.
1811 James Sadler ascends from Hackney with his two sons John and Windham.
July 19th 1821 The first balloon ascension using coal gas
instead of
hydrogen gas. It is on George IV's coronation day.
1824 Windham is killed when he falls from a balloon.
For a further history of Georgian ballooning, click here.