André-Jacques Garnerin

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Andre-Jacques Garnerin (January 31 1769 - August 18 1823) was the inventor of the parachute. He was born in Paris.

His early experiment were based on umbrella-shaped devices. He was captured during the Napoleonic Wars and was held a prisoner for three years.

Garnerin was involved with the flight of hot air balloons. He carried out the first jump with a Silk parachute on October 22 1797, jumping out of a balloon over Parc Monceau, Paris. After a descent of 3000 feet, he landed without injury in front of an admiring crowd. On October 3-4 1803, he covered a distance of 395 km between Paris and Clausen with his balloon.

His wife Jeanne-Genevieve was the first woman parachutist.

Garnerin died in a construction accident while making a balloon in Paris.