Henry Tracey Coxwell was an English aeronaut. He was the son of Commander Joseph Coxwell, educated for the army, but became a dentist. From boyhood he had been greatly interested in ballooning, then in its infancy, but his own first ascent was not made until 1844. In 1848 he became a professional aeronaut, making numerous public ascents in the chief continental cities. Returning to London, he gave exhibitions from the Cremorne Gardens and subsequently from the Surrey Gardens. By 1861 he had made over 400 ascents. In 1862 with Dr James Glaisher, he attained the greatest height on record, about 11,887 m (39,000 ft). His companion became insensible, and he himself, unable to use his frost-bitten hands, opened the gas-valve with his teeth, and made an extremely rapid but safe descent. The result of this and other aerial voyages by Coxwell and Glaisher to the science of meteorology. Was most pertinacious in urging the practical utility of employing balloons in time of war. He had a balloon factory in Richmond Road Seaford Sussex and has a memorial at St Peter's Church, East Blatchington, Seaford. His last ascent was made in 1886.
Henry Tracey Coxwell was an English aeronaut. He was the son of Commander Joseph Coxwell, educated for the army, but became a dentist. From boyhood he had been greatly interested in ballooning, then in its infancy, but his own first ascent was not made until 1844. In 1848 he became a professional aeronaut, making numerous public ascents in the chief continental cities. Returning to London, he gave exhibitions from the Cremorne Gardens and subsequently from the Surrey Gardens. By 1861 he had made over 400 ascents. In 1862 with Dr James Glaisher, he attained the greatest height on record, about 11,887 m (39,000 ft). His companion became insensible, and he himself, unable to use his frost-bitten hands, opened the gas-valve with his teeth, and made an extremely rapid but safe descent. The result of this and other aerial voyages by Coxwell and Glaisher to the science of meteorology. Was most pertinacious in urging the practical utility of employing balloons in time of war. He had a balloon factory in Richmond Road Seaford Sussex and has a memorial at St Peter's Church, East Blatchington, Seaford. His last ascent was made in 1886.
