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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D5459/1/28/10 |
| Former Reference | D5459/3/87 |
| Title | Count Zambecary's Balloon as it ascended with Count Zambecary and Admiral Vernon from Totenham Court Road |
| Date | Feb 1786 |
| Description | A hydrogen balloon with a canopy of red and white vertical stripes, below which is a gondola-shaped carriage. On the left is a seated man wearing a broad-brimmed black hat which he has tied on with a scarf. On the left stands a man in a red coat waving a Union flag. Available on CD 157. |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Artist | Woodward, George Murgatroyd (?1765-1809) |
| Archive Creator | George Murgatroyd Woodward (1765-1809), artist and writer |
| Further Information | G.M.W. delin : February 1786
This depicts a flight made by Count Zambeccari (1752 - 1812) on 25th March 1785. He had originally planned to fly with Admiral Sir Edward Vernon and a Miss Grist, but the weight was too great and Miss Grist was left behind. The balloon took off from the Tottenham Court Road, but there was a strong wind and the balloon was damaged in its ascent, with the cord controlling the valve being lost. When the balloon was above the clouds three of the cords attaching the car to the balloon broke. At this point the Admiral expressed a
"Desire of Approaching nearer to the Surface of the Earth".
The Count unwisely jettisoned the last of the ballast causing the balloon to rise rapidly and they found themselves in the middle of a snowstorm, where the balloon began to revolve. They managed to land safely an hour later at Horsham. |
| Physical Description | Coloured drawing. Size 315 x 195 mm. Portrait. |
| Copies | A digital copy can also be viewed on the public computers at the record office. |
| Publication Note | Rolt, 1966. |
| Image | 
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