Which French aviator made the first balloon flight across the English Channel?

Jean-Pierre Blanchard made the first balloon flight across the English Channel.

Blanchard crossed from Dover, England, to Calais, France, on 7 January 1785. He flew with the American physician John Jeffries in a hydrogen balloon, making the journey an important early demonstration of long-distance balloon travel.

The crossing was difficult because the balloon lost lift and the passengers had to throw equipment overboard. Blanchard even discarded clothing and other items to keep the balloon airborne. They eventually reached the French coast after several hours.

Although this achievement belongs to balloon aviation, it was not a hot-air balloon flight. Hydrogen balloons rise because hydrogen is lighter than surrounding air, while hot-air balloons rise because heated air inside the envelope is less dense. That distinction is a common source of confusion in ballooning history.