Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier became famous in aviation history as the Montgolfier brothers. They invented the Montgolfière-style hot air balloon, called the globe aérostatique, which achieved the first confirmed piloted ascent by humans in 1783, with Jacques-Étienne aboard.

In addition to their hot air balloon innovation, the brothers also collaborated to develop transparent paper. They were born into a French family known for its paper manufacturing business.

The Montgolfier family business still exists today under the name Canson, a company that sells high-quality paper products to over 150 countries.

Before inventing the hot air balloon, one of the brothers experimented with jumping off buildings using a parachute.

A sheep, a duck, and a rooster were used as test passengers before any humans were brave enough to take flight.

Both brothers were members of a Freemason lodge in France.

They mistakenly believed that smoke—not heat—was what lifted the balloon. As a result, they intentionally burned foul-smelling materials to generate thick smoke, which was unnecessary.

One of the brothers had an ambitious dream of using hot air balloons to help France capture the Fortress of Gibraltar from Great Britain.

The Montgolfier brothers were considered national heroes and were granted titles of nobility by King Louis XVI.

The French word for hot air balloon, montgolfière, is named in their honor.