JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
The The Great Nassau ballooned ascended from Vauxhall Gardens on 24 July 1837 under the control of aeronaut Charles Green (1785-1870) along with a small crew. Also included was Robert Cocking, another aerial explorer who was in tow of the balloon with an experimental parachute of his own design and construction. He was taken aloft, and at 5000 feet was released into disaster–the parachute failed, and Mr. Cocking was dead.
This lovely broadside (found via Bibliodyssey) describing the even exists on the Smithsonian Institution website (here).
And the detail of Mr. McCocking’s fall:
