Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, Grand Day Fete

Robert Cocking (1777-1837) was a watercolor painter and amateur scientist who was inspired to design and launch a parachute after witnessing André-Jaques Garnerin’s 1802 parachute descent. His design, an inverted cone-shaped parachute, was heavily influenced by Sir George Cayley’s article On Aerial Navigation (1810). On July 24 1837, Cocking and his invention were attached to the Royal Nassau (or Vauxhall) balloon, piloted by Charles Green with Edward Spencer, as it made an ascent from the Royal Gardens at Vauxhall in London. When the balloon reached a height of 5000 feet, Cocking called out "Goodnight Spencer, goodnight Green" and the parachute was released. However, it failed to operate as planned, crumpling rapidly and crashing within three minutes. Cocking died very shortly after his fall. Following the fatal accident, several aeronauts, including Charles Green, made ascents to benefit Cocking's widow.