Thomas Harris (aviator)

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Collecting card, portraying Harris falling to his death to save his fiancée.

Thomas Harris was an early English balloon pioneer who was killed in an accident in 1824. He was flying a hydrogen balloon from Vauxhall, London with his fiancée when the release valve got stuck in the open position, thus releasing the hydrogen. In an attempt to prevent the balloon falling, he threw out all the ballast and even their clothes. In the end, he jumped to his death, making the balloon light enough to save his fiancée's life.

This event was commemorated on a late 19th century collecting card depicting historical events in ballooning and parachuting.

[edit] References

• Heavenly Matches – Time Magazine

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