Rozier, Pilatre de

Rozier, Pilatre de (1754-85), French balloonist.

Pilatre de Rozier made the first ascents by hot-air balloon in 1783. (See Montgolfier.)

He was also the first person to die in a balloon accident.

On 15 June, 1785, with P. A. Romain, he set out from Boulogne in an attempt to fly the English Channel. After twenty minutes flying, their balloon crashed in flames from a height of 914 meters/ 3000 feet. Rozier was killed instantly and Romain died shortly afterwards.