1-156-869 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

First manned flight in a hydrogen balloon, France, 1 December 1783 (1887). French aeronauts Jacques Charles (1746-1823) and Noel Robert made the first manned (free flight) ascent in a hydrogen balloon, designed by Charles, a physics professor, and constructed by Robert and his brother Jean. It took off in front of a crowd of 400,000, landing two hours later at Nesle-la-Vallee, over 27 miles away. Robert alighted there but Charles re-ascended in the balloon, as seen here, reaching an altitude of over 9000 feet. From Histoire des Ballons by Gaston Tissandier. (Paris, 1887).