The first ascent of the Great Montgolfier Balloon, on Her Majesties Birth-day, May 24th

J.W. Hoar’s balloon, referred to as the "Great Montgolfier Balloon," was originally named the "Queen’s Royal Aerostat," and was to ascend from a platform in the middle of a lake in the Surrey Zoological Gardens in Kensington on the birthday of Queen Victoria (May 24, 1838). Inflation of the balloon was hampered by an insufficient furnace, too small for the large size of the balloon. When the Gardens' proprietors refused to allow the ascension, angry members of the assembled crowd destroyed the balloon.

J.W. Hoar was instrumental in founding the "Aeronautic Association" in 1837, largely in order to organize a ballooning trip from England to Africa. In 1838 he constructed the giant Montgolfiere balloon for the Queen Victoria birthday celebration. Following the failed ascent at that event, Hoar built an even larger balloon for an ascension from Beulah Spa, Norwood on the opening of the Croydon Atmospheric railway, and later a balloon for the Notting Hill racecourse in 1839. These two launches were also failures, and Hoar seems to cease aeronautic activities after this date.