Richard Crosbie

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Richard Crosbie (1755-1824) was the first Irishman to make a manned flight.[1] [2] He flew in a hydrogen air balloon from Ranelagh, on Dublin's southside to Clontarf, on Dublin's northside on 19th January 1785 and was 30 years old. [3]

Crosbie, who was six feet three inches, was from Crosbie Park, near Baltinglass, County Wicklow. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin. His brother, Sir Edward Crosbie, was executed for treason.

Crosbie launched several balloons containing animals before attempting the first human flight on Irish soil. One of which, containing a cat, was seen passing over the west coast of Scotland, before descending near the Isle of Man. The cat and the balloon were both rescued by a passing ship.

His achievement[4] occurred just 14 months after the first-ever manned balloon flight by the Montgolfier Brothers in France and is commemorated in Dublin.[5]

See also

  • Rev. John Crosbie

References

  1. ↑ McMahon, Brian (2010-07-31). "Ascend or Die: Richard Crosbie, Pioneer of Balloon Flight". 
  2. ↑ Irish Ballooning Association (2012). "Ireland's First Aeronaut". 
  3. ↑ Library Ireland. "Biography: Richard Crosbie". 
  4. ↑ Rice, Eoghan (2006-12-17). "First Irishman to take to the skies to be honoured". The Sunday Tribune, Dublin. 
  5. ↑ Commemorative Sculpture of Richard Crosbie, Dublin

Sources


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