James Glaisher, Record Breaking 1862 Ascent

Drawing shows two pigeons thrown from balloon during James Glaisher's test flight. One pigeon is flying and the other is dead and falling. James Glaisher (April 7, 1809 - February 7, 1903) was an English meteorologist, aeronaut and astronomer. In 1837 he became Superintendent of the Department of Meteorology and Magnetism at Royal Observatory, Greenwich, where he served for 34 years. In 1845, he published his dew point tables, for the measurement of humidity. He was a founder member of the Meteorological Society (1850) and the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain (1866). He is best remembered as a pioneering balloonist. Between 1862-66, usually with Henry Tracey Coxwell as his co-pilot, Glaisher made numerous ascents to measure the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere at its highest levels. His ascent on September 5, 1862 broke the world record for altitude, but he passed out around 8, 800 meters before a reading could be taken. One of the pigeons making the trip with him died. Estimates suggest that he rose to more than 9, 500 meters and as much as 10, 900 meters above sea-level. He died in 1903 at the age of 93. Graphite, ink wash and lead white by Albert Tissandier.18

Picture No

12696332

Media ID

47669113

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4350px x 3113px (3.1MB)

Credit

LOC/Science Source/Mary Evans