Charles Green (1785 - 1870)

Born 31 Jan 1785 in City of London, Middlesex, England

Died 26 Mar 1870 at age 85 in City of London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Robert Green [send private message]

Biography

Charles Green was born to Thomas Green, a fruit salesman (occupation known as a fruiterer in England at the time), in 1785 in London. He took up his father's trade for a period of time but then became interested in piloting gas filled balloons. He made his first ascent in 1821 when 36 years old. That flight was made to commemorate the coronation of King George IV. The flight almost ended in disaster as the balloon with Charles aboard flew out over the sea. He was rescued by a passing ship captained by the mate, Francis Cheesman, who ran the silk through with his bowsprit, releasing the gas.

After that first experience, Charles, who became known as an aeronaut and a balloonist, went on to make over 500 ascents, setting several records in the process. Green had more than one close call while flying. He and a passenger were severely injured after someone sabotaged their balloon's ropes holding the basket in place. In another flight Charles and a passenger got caught in a thunder and lightning storm.

His most significant achievements included proving, in 1821, that coal-gas was applicable to the inflation of balloons. Flying (with a companion) to a then record height of 27,146 feet, or about five and a quarter miles above the earth. The height of the ascent was based upon a barometer's reading. On that same flight the temperature went down to 27 degrees below freezing (F.). On several occasions his balloons were carried by the upper currents to speeds of between eighty and one hundred miles an hour! His longest flight was from England to Germany. It took 18 hours to travel nearly 500 miles and was a balloon distance record that stood until 1907. Charles also built a small working model of a balloon which incorporated the first mechanically driven propeller ever to power an aircraft. It was flown in 1840.

A very appreciative passenger in one of Charles' ascents had a salver (a silver medal) made and gave it to Charles in commemoration of the flight made in 1839. Today, the Charles Green Salver is awarded by the British Balloon and Airship Club to British Aeronauts as an achievement award. Since 1988 there have been 15 recipients.

Charles Green married Martha Morrell in around 1806. They had one son, George Green (1807-1864).

Charles passed away in 1870 at the age of 85 years.

Sources

• Wikipedia Biography [1]

• Vauxhall History - The 1836 ‘Royal Vauxhall Balloon’ ascent that set an eight-decade world distance record for manned flight, by David E. Coke 17 January 2018 [2]

• Grace's Guide to British Industrial History - Biography for Charles Green [3]

• Mentioned in Famous Birthdays [4]

• CIA NOTABLE FLIGHTS and ACHIEVEMENTS [5]

• The Charles Green Salver, an award given to British aeronauts by the British Balloon and Airship Club [6]

• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQYD-F9Q : 11 February 2018, Charles Green in entry for George Green, 29 Dec 1807); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 585,440, 585,441, 585,442.

• Find A Grave Memorial [7]