Sophie Blanchard

French aeronaut

Sophie Blanchard (also Madame Blanchard; 25 March 1778 — 6 July 1819) was a French aeronaut and wife of ballooning pioneer Jean-Pierre Blanchard. She made many balloon flights.

Blanchard before her death

Blanchard died at age 41. After a major accident in which her balloon caught fire, she fell to her death. She had been born in Paris.