October 22

On this day – 22nd October 1797 – The first recorded parachute jump 

The first recorded parachute jump was done by the Frenchman André-Jacques Garnerin over Paris in 1797. His parachute was based on an umbrella like shape (about 7m wide) and in silk. The first jump was from a height of one thousand meters (3200 feet). In October 1799 was the first recorded parachute jump by a women also successfully conducted. This was done by Jeanne Garnerin, André-Jacques, wife. Garnerin travelled around Europe to show off his balloons and parachutes until his death in 1823.