Robert brothers
Anne-Jean Robert | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1758 Paris |
| Died | 1820 (aged 61–62) Paris |
| Other names | l'aîné, (the elder) |
| Occupation(s) | Mechanical engineer, Balloonist |
| Known for | Builder of first hydrogen balloon Builder of first manned hydrogen balloon Co-pilot of first balloon flight over 100km 1784 |
Nicolas-Louis Robert | |
|---|---|
The world's first manned hydrogen balloon flight. 1783 | |
| Born | 1760 Paris |
| Died | 1820 (aged 59–60) |
| Other names | Marie-Noël Robert Robert le Jeune cadet the younger |
| Occupation(s) | Mechanical engineer, Balloonist |
| Known for | Builder of first hydrogen balloon Builder of first manned hydrogen balloon Co-pilot of first manned hydrogen balloon flight in 1783 Co-pilot of first balloon flight over 100km 1784 |
Les Frères Robert were two French brothers. Anne-Jean Robert (1758–1820) and Nicolas-Louis Robert (1760–1828) were the engineers who built the world's first hydrogen balloon for professor Jacques Charles, which flew from central Paris on 27 August 1783. They went on to build the world's first manned hydrogen balloon, and on 1 December 1783 Nicolas-Louis accompanied Jacques Charles on a 2-hour, 5-minute flight. Their barometer and thermometer made it the first balloon flight to provide meteorological measurements of the atmosphere above the Earth's surface.
The brothers subsequently experimented with an elongated elliptical shape for the hydrogen envelope in a balloon they attempted to power and steer by means of oars and umbrellas. In September 1784 the brothers flew 186 km from Paris to Beuvry, the world's first flight of more than 100 km.