Which French balloonist made the first balloon ascent in North America in 1793?

Jean-Pierre Blanchard made the first balloon ascent in North America in 1793.

On 9 January 1793, Blanchard launched from the Washington Prison Yard in Philadelphia. President George Washington attended the event, along with future presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe. Blanchard’s balloon rose to roughly 1,000 metres before descending in Gloucester County, New Jersey.

The flight helped introduce European ballooning to the newly formed United States. Blanchard used a hydrogen balloon, not a modern hot-air balloon, and carried scientific instruments, maps and a letter from Washington. He had already gained fame in Europe through dramatic ascents and long-distance demonstrations.

Later American balloonists, including John Wise and Thaddeus Lowe, became important figures in the country’s balloon history. They should not be confused with Blanchard, whose 1793 flight was the first successful balloon ascent in North America.