But once airborne, Sophie underwent a striking metamorphosis and transformed into an almost reckless daredevil.
This recklessness would one day cost her life.
Sophie began flying with Jean-Pierre Blanchard in 1804.
Blanchard was a professional balloonist, who made money by charging spectators for admission to his demonstrations.
But money wasnt coming in as fast.
So Blanchard took Sophie along, believing the presence of a woman would generate some interest and attract attention.
Soon Sophie began to fly alone, becoming the first woman to pilot her own balloon.
Crippled by debt, Sophie continued to fly, slowly developing her own style of showmanship.
She often flew at night, sometimes staying aloft all throughout the night.
While her husband dropped parachuted dogs, Sophie accentuated her shows with fireworks that she launched from the sky.
She made ascents to celebrate Napoleon’s marriage to Marie-Louise of Austria.
Sophie Blanchard performing at the restoration of the monarchy in 1814, with King Louis XVIII.
Credit:Scrapbook of early aeronautica.
Once when flying near Vincennes a hailstorm forced her to ascend and she lost consciousness.
When she finally descended, she had spent more than 14 hours in the air.
On a trip to Turin, temperatures dropped so low that icicles formed on her hands and face.
Hydrogen balloon used hydrogen gas to obtain lift; the gas being lighter than air.
Hydrogen balloons were also smaller and easy to inflate.
She was doing two shows every week for the entire time she was in Paris.
Some of spectators implored her not to make the ascent.
Sophie herself must have had some misgivings for witness claimed that she was nervous before the show.
But she made up her mind and stepped into her chair.
Before she let go, she promised that this will be for the last time.
Within moments, the balloon as in flames as it continued to drift away.
Sophie Blanchard falling to her death.
Credit:Wikimedia
Some of the audience applauded believing that this sudden fireball was part of the show.
But soon it became apparent that Sophie was in danger.
By the time rescuers arrived, Sophie was already dead, her neck broken.
Sophies death was mourned all over Europe.
For some, Sophies death proved a cautionary tale of conduct unbecoming of a woman.
Sophie was buried at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
There is a memorial on top of her grave representing a balloon in flames.
