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who had already figured in some of the earliest achievements to be 
5 
entered in the chronicles of air travel The site was near Independence 
Hall, Philadelphia--then temporary capitol of the United States. A large 
crowd assembled for the occasion, including President George Washington, 
then in the closing months of his first term as Chief Executive. It was 
Blanchard's 45th ascent to the skies, although his first to be made away 
from Europe. He had thought himself accustomed to the crowds of people 
attracted to his take-offs back home, but he was astonished by the sight 
of the multitudes he beheld as the balloon gained altitude. 
"What a sight", he is reported to have said. "How delicious 
_6 
for me to enjoy it'." 
Thus did the balloon become a favorite device for both Europeans 
and Americans, who soon were vying with each other to find new ways to 
make each ascent more daring and more entertaining for crowds at country 
fairs and other public gatherings. It got so bad that Scientific 
American reported in 1849: 
"To the shrewd man of science, balloons have ceased to be a 
matter of interest; their object of late has been more to 
l 
amuse the crowd and benefit the adventurer."