Who commanded the first French military balloon at the Battle of Fleurus?

Jean-Marie Coutelle commanded the first French military balloon at the Battle of Fleurus. As a captain, he led France’s first company of military aeronauts and operated the observation balloon L’Entreprenant during the battle on 26 June 1794.

Coutelle was a physicist who became involved in balloon experiments after the Montgolfier brothers’ pioneering flights. The French Revolutionary government saw military potential in balloons and created an aerostatic corps for reconnaissance. At Fleurus, Coutelle and officer Antoine Morlot observed Austrian movements from the tethered balloon and passed information to the French army using signals and written messages.

The battle is often described as the first to use aerial reconnaissance, although the balloon’s practical influence was debated by commanders. The Montgolfier brothers were important balloon pioneers, but they did not command this military operation. Coutelle later participated in the Egyptian expedition before the aerostatic corps was eventually disbanded.