James Tytler

James Tytler

James Tytler (17 December 1745 – 11 January 1804) was a Scottish apothecary and the first person in Britain to make a manned hot air balloon flight. He was also an editor of the second edition of Encyclopædia Britannica.

Early life

Tytler was born in Fearn, Angus, Scotland, the son of a clergyman. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, but did not graduate. Instead, he set up a practice as an apothecary in Leith.

Ballooning

In 1784, Tytler made the first manned hot air balloon flight in Britain. His balloon, which he called the "Grand Edinburgh Fire Balloon," was made of paper and was filled with hot air from a fire. He made several flights, reaching altitudes of up to 350 feet.

Encyclopædia Britannica

Tytler was the main editor of the second edition of Encyclopædia Britannica, which was published in ten volumes from 1777 to 1784. He wrote many of the articles himself, and his work on the encyclopedia is considered to have been a major contribution to the development of the reference work.

Later life and death

Tytler's radical political views led to him being forced to flee to Ireland in 1792. He later moved to Salem, Massachusetts, in the United States, where he died in 1804.

Legacy

Tytler's contributions to ballooning and to the Encyclopædia Britannica have been recognized by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the British Balloon and Airship Club.

See also

• History of aviation
• History of encyclopedias

External links

• James Tytler at Encyclopædia Britannica