Charles Leroux facts for kids
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Charles Leroux was an American balloonist and parachutist. He was born as Joseph Johnson on October 31, 1856, in Waterbury, Connecticut, United States. He became famous for his daring jumps from hot air balloons.
Sadly, Leroux died on September 24, 1889, during his 239th jump. This happened after he landed in the water of Tallinn Bay in Tallinn, Estonia. At that time, Estonia was part of the Russian Empire. One hundred years later, in 1989, a special monument was built to remember him. It stands near where he died in Pirita, Tallinn.
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Life of an Adventurer
Charles Leroux was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. He was a very skilled balloonist and parachutist. In 1889, he traveled to Europe to show off his amazing talents.
He performed many exhibition jumps across the continent. He jumped in cities like Berlin and Bremen in Germany. He also performed in Russia, in big cities such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Tallinn was meant to be the very last stop on his European tour.
The Final Jump
Leroux's parachute jump in Tallinn was first planned for September 22, 1889. But strong winds made them wait for two days. On September 24, the weather was still not good. The winds kept changing, and there was light rain now and then.
Despite the bad weather, Leroux decided to go ahead with the jump. His balloon was filled with lighting gas from a local factory. It took off at 5 PM from a small hill called Harjumägi in the city center.
A Difficult Descent
As soon as the balloon went up, the strong winds pushed it towards Tallinn Bay. When the balloon was above the last houses of the town, Leroux jumped. His parachute opened correctly, and he began to float down.
However, the winds were very strong and made the parachute swing wildly. It carried him further out over the sea. About a mile and a quarter from the coast, the swinging parachute dropped into the water.
After the Landing
Leroux did not try to get free from his parachute. He quickly went under the water. Some people watching thought they saw him come up to the surface once or twice.
No safety boats were ready nearby. Lifeboats arrived about ten minutes later, but they could not find him. Two days later, local people found Leroux's body. A group of doctors said he had drowned.
Leroux's Legacy
Charles Leroux was also an inventor. He made many improvements to his own balloons and parachutes. His famous performances, and his tragic death in Tallinn, made many people in Estonia very interested in aviation.
Leroux is remembered for his important role in the early days of flying. In Estonia, keeping his memory alive is considered a great honor.
Where He Was Buried
Leroux was buried at the Kopli cemetery in Tallinn. However, the exact spot of his grave is not known today. This is because the entire cemetery was destroyed in 1950 during the time Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union.
