On This Day January 7

Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard, (1753-1809), the inventor of the parachute, successfully made the first balloon crossing of the English Channel from Dover to Calais on January 7, 1785. Mr. Blanchard and his American passenger, Dr. John Jeffries, had to shed all of their clothes as the wind died and the balloon’s airbag cooled too quickly over the sea. Neither man could swim.

 

Crossing of the English Channel by Blanchard in 1785.

WANT MORE THINGS THAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 7? CHECK OUT MY ONTHATDAY BLOG. HERE'S A LINK