Descent of Mr. Sadler in the Irish Channel

James Sadler was an inventor who became the first English aeronaut when he ascended from Oxford on October 4, 1784. He made several more ascents before retiring from public aeronautics in 1785 to focus on engineering. 25 years later, Sadler returned to ballooning, and in 1812 attempted to cross the Irish sea from Dublin to Hollyhead. For this, Sadler built a large balloon, the ‘Erin-go-bragh’, with a 55 feet diameter and a capacity of 87,114 cubic feet. Sadler was blown out to sea during the voyage and rescued by a fishing boat. The details of this voyage were published in "Balloon. An authentic narrative of the ærial voyage, of Mr. Sadler, across the Irish channel...." Sadler was followed in his aeronautic pursuits by his sons William Windham Sadler (1796-1824) and John Sadler.