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The Montgolfier Brothers

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Inventor

The Resume

    Born in Annonay, France
    Joseph-Michael Montgolfier (August 26, 1740-June 26, 1810)
    Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier (January 6, 1745-August 2, 1799)
    Inventors of the hot-air balloon (1782)

Why they might be annoying:

    They never realized that their balloons rose because the hot air was less dense than surrounding air.
    Instead, they thought the smoke contained a special gas, which they dubbed 'Montgolfier gas.'
    Since they thought the denser the smoke, the greater the lift, they burned wool, straw and old shoes to power their balloons.
    They lost control of their first unmanned test balloon, which was destroyed by a crowd after it landed.
    When their balloon was demonstrated for King Louis XVI, Joseph stayed home due to his unkempt appearance and shyness.
    In a short time, hot air balloons were eclipsed by hydrogen balloons.

Why they might not be annoying:

    They ran the family paper firm so well, the French government held it up as a model for other papermakers.
    Barely a year passed between the brothers' first experiments over the fireplace and the first manned flight in a hot-air balloon.
    In recognition of their achievements, their father was elevated to the nobility by Louis XVI.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 170 Votes: 50.59% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 117 Votes: 52.14% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 291 Votes: 56.36% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 148 Votes: 62.16% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 24 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 17 Votes: 41.18% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 28 Votes: 53.57% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 12 Votes: 33.33% Annoying