Sophie Blanchard, commonly referred to as Madame Blanchard, lived from 25 March 1778 to 6 July 1819 and was a French aeronaut and the wife of ballooning pioneer Jean-Pierre Blanchard. According to the source lead she was the first woman to work as a professional balloonist and, after her husband's death, made more than 60 ascents. Napoleon Bonaparte promoted her to the role of Aeronaut of the Official Festivals, and after the restoration of the monarchy in 1814 Louis XVIII named her Official Aeronaut of the Restoration. She lost consciousness on a few occasions and almost drowned when her balloon crashed in a marsh. In 1819 she became the first woman killed in an aviation accident when fireworks ignited the gas in her balloon at the Tivoli Gardens in Paris.
Facts
FAQs
Which rulers named Sophie Blanchard their official aeronaut?
Napoleon made her Aeronaut of the Official Festivals, and Louis XVIII named her Official Aeronaut of the Restoration.
Napoleon Bonaparte promoted Sophie Blanchard to the role of Aeronaut of the Official Festivals after she entertained him. After the restoration of the monarchy in 1814 she performed for Louis XVIII, who named her Official Aeronaut of the Restoration.
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Source Sophie Blanchard (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph [nationality]Quote, Lead paragraph [nationality]
was a French aeronaut
Sources
1. Sophie Blanchard (Wikipedia)
Lead paragraph
25 March 1778
Lead paragraph [death-year]
6 July 1819
Lead paragraph [nationality]
was a French aeronaut
In Group: Women Pioneers of Flight, Lead sentence
Sophie Blanchard (French pronunciation: [sɔfi blɑ̃ʃaʁ]; 25 March 1778-6 July 1819), commonly referred to as Madame Blanchard, was a French aeronaut and the wife of ballooning pioneer Jean-Pierre Blanchard.
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