January 6 


6 January 1745

Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier

French aviation pioneer and balloonist Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier (1745–1799) was born on January 6, 1745. He and his brother Joseph-Michel (1740–1810) were the developers of the hot-air balloon, which launched the first confirmed piloted ascent by humans in 1783, carrying Jacques-Étienne, and the first manned untethered flight carrying Pilatre de Rozier (1754–1785) and François Laurent d’Arlandes (1742–1809).

Engraving depicting the Montgolfier balloon making its ascent at the Château de la Muette on November 21, 1783, carrying Pilatre de Rozier and François Laurent d’Arlandes

 

© 2026, Andrew Mirecki 

 

 

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