Joseph-Michel Montgolfier (26 August 1740 – 26 June 1810) and
Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier (6 January 1745 – 2 August 1799) were the inventors of the
Montgolfière-style
hot air balloon,
globe aérostatique. The brothers succeeded in launching the first piloted ascent, carrying Étienne into the sky. Later, in December 1783, in recognition of their achievement, their father Pierre was elevated to the nobility and the hereditary appellation of
de Montgolfier by King
Louis XVI of France. Both of them were freemasons in
Les Neuf Soeurs lodge in Paris.