Richard Crosbie
Encyclopedia
Richard Crosbie was the first Irishman to make a manned flight. He flew in a hydrogen air balloon from Ranelagh
, on Dublin's southside to Clontarf
, on Dublin's northside in 1785.
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 occurred just 14 months after the first-ever manned balloon flight by the Montgolfier Brothers
in France and is commemorated in Dublin.
Ranelagh
Ranelagh is a residential area and urban village on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the postal district of Dublin 6. It is in the local government electoral area of Rathmines and the Dáil Constituency of Dublin South-East.-History:...
, on Dublin's southside to Clontarf
Clontarf, Dublin
Clontarf is a coastal suburb on the northside of Dublin, in Ireland. It is most famous for giving the name to the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, in which Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, defeated the Vikings of Dublin and their allies, the Irish of Leinster. This battle, which extended to districts...
, on Dublin's northside in 1785.
Crosbie, who was six feet three inches, was from Crosbie Park, near Baltinglass, County Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
. He studied at Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, Dublin. His brother, Sir Edward Crosbie
Sir Edward Crosbie
Sir Edward Crosbie was the first United Irishman to be executed for treason after the 1798 Rebellion in Carlow, Ireland....
, 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 occurred just 14 months after the first-ever manned balloon flight by the Montgolfier Brothers
Montgolfier brothers
Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier were the inventors of the montgolfière-style hot air balloon, globe aérostatique. The brothers succeeded in launching the first manned ascent, carrying Étienne into the sky...
in France and is commemorated in Dublin.