André-Jacques Garnerin

André-Jacques Garnerin was a French balloonist and the first person to successfully perform a parachute jump. In 1797, he made a groundbreaking descent from a balloon at a height of about 3,200 feet in Paris, using a silk parachute he designed himself. His innovative work laid the foundation for modern parachuting. Garnerin's jumps were not only thrilling but also demonstrated the principles of aerodynamics and gravity, helping to advance the science of flight. He is celebrated as a pioneering figure in aviation history, blending adventure with scientific inquiry during the early era of human flight.