January 9 in American History

January 9, 1793 — the first balloon flight in America

Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard lifted off from a Philadelphia prison yard in a hydrogen balloon as President Washington and future presidents Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe watched. The first aerial voyage in the United States carried a passport from Washington himself — America's first, tentative step off the ground.

Common Questions

What happened on January 9 in American history?

In 1793: the first balloon flight in America. Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard lifted off from a Philadelphia prison yard in a hydrogen balloon as President Washington and future presidents Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe watched.

Why is January 9 significant?

Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard lifted off from a Philadelphia prison yard in a hydrogen balloon as President Washington and future presidents Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe watched. The first aerial voyage in the United States carried a passport from Washington himself — America's first, tentative step off the ground.

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