| Ildebrando Zacchini | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1868 Malta |
| Died | July 17, 1948 Tampa, Florida |
| Resting place | Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, Tampa |
| Known for | human cannonball act |
Ildebrando Zacchini (1868 - July 17, 1948, Tampa, Florida) was a painter, inventor, and travelling circus owner.[1] Inspired by the works of Jules Verne, Zacchini came up with an idea for a human cannonball act.[2] Instead of explosives, Zacchini's human-firing cannon used compressed air, and he first tested it on his son Hugo Zacchini. The idea for the cannonball act was initially proposed to the Italian government as a military maneuver to be used in conjunction with parachutes; when the proposal was rejected Zacchini looked to use the technique as part of an entertainment act.[3]