Windham William Sadler

Windham William Sadler (1796 – 30 September 1824) was an English balloonist. His father was aviation pioneer James Sadler and, after an education in engineering, Sadler followed in his father's footsteps. He made an ascent in London during the Grand Jubilee of 1814 and in 1817 made the first successful aerial crossing of the Irish Sea, a feat that had been unsuccessfully attempted by his father. Sadler was killed when his balloon crashed into a chimney near Blackburn during a flight in 1824.

Early life and engineering career

Sadler was born in Pimlico, London, on 17 October 1796. He was the fourth son of James Sadler and his second wife, Martha Hancock, though two of his older brothers had died in infancy. James Sadler was a pioneer in aviation, being one of the first British balloonists. James Sadler had made his first ascent in 1785 with the politician William Windham who became godfather to Sadler's son, who was named in his honour. Windham Sadler was baptised at St George's, Hanover Square on 30 March 1797.

Windham Sadler received an engineer's education, with a focus on chemistry, and worked for the first town gas company in Liverpool (the Liverpool Gas Light Company established by James Sadler) from 1817, becoming manager of 21 September at the age of 20. His duties were to ensure the production of town gas from coal. Under his direction the company grew rapidly and Sadler's salary increased from £100 a year to £150 by 1820. From 1821 Sadler came into conflict with the company's treasurer, John King, and he was relieved of his post on 3 June 1822. Sadler was unsuccessful in applying for the post of engineer at the rival Liverpool Oil Gas Company in October 1822.

Aviation

Sadler first flew in a balloon with his father in July 1810 at Oxford. He made his first solo ascent at Cheltenham on 7 September 1813 after insufficient gas had been generated to carry his father also; he successfully landed an hour later near Chipping Norton.

In 1814 Sadler flew from Burlington House, London, with Mary Thompson, an actress. During the Grand Jubilee of 1814 Sadler ascended in a balloon from Green Park, London, to distribute favour and programmes onto the crowd below. From 1815 to 1819 he lectured on ballooning at Oxford and Liverpool.

Sadler worked with his father but by now was piloting most of their flights. He flew from the New Barracks in Cork in early September 1816, in a diameter balloon. He was presented with flags for the trip by Sarah, Countess of Shannon. A flight with Edmond D. Livingston in November from Richmond Barracks, Dublin, intended to be the first to cross the Irish Sea by air. His father had attempted the feat in 1812 but failed, landing in the Irish Sea and being rescued by a fishing vessel. Sadler's balloon was blown westwards, away from the sea, for about and eventually landed in the Bog of Allen.

Irish Sea crossing

In 1817, Sadler attempted again to cross the Irish Sea by balloon. Sadler's attempt began at 1.30 pm on 22 July 1817 with an ascent from Portobello barracks in Dublin, witnessed by 100,000 spectators. Sadler managed to find the right height to ride the prevailing westerly current towards Great Britain. He recalled seeing, at mid-crossing, the shores of both Wales and Ireland and the entirety of the Isle of Man. Sadler successfully landed south of Holyhead at 6.45 pm the same day. Sadler afterwards published an account of his flight, the first successful aerial crossing of the Irish Sea. This account appeared as ''Balloon: An Authentic Narrative of the Aerial Voyage, of Mr. Sadler Across the Irish Channel'' and ''Ærostation: A Narrative of the Aerial Voyage of Mr. Windham Sadler, Across the Irish Channel''. A contemporary print by engraver Robert Havell shows Sadler's balloon carrying a banner reading "Erin go bragh" (Irish: Ireland forever).

Later exploits and death

Sadler married Catherine Richards in 1819 and afterwards combined his professional aviation exploits with management of a medicated bathing pool in Liverpool. The couple had two children, John Muncaster Sadler (c. 1821-1912), who became a railway engineer and Catherine Windham Sadler who died in childhood.

On 28 September 1819 Sadler and companion Mr Armstrong ascended from Kirkby Fair, Liverpool, in his balloon ''Loyalist'' watched by 120,000 spectators. He intended to fly the to Manchester but a thunderstorm intervened and blew him across the Pennines. In danger of being blown out to the North Sea he pulled a ripcord to release gas from the balloon at Norton, County Durham. His anchor failed but the balloon was eventually brought to a halt. The balloonists had travelled in less than three hours, in probably the fastest journey then made between Merseyside and Teesside.

In September 1823 Sadler made his first ascent using coal gas and on 27 May 1824 made an ascent by the same means in Liverpool, with gas piped from the works of his former employer. In early summer 1824 Sadler made a flight from Oxford.

Sadlers's 31st balloon ascent was made on 29 September 1824 at Bolton. In the evening he prepared to land near Blackburn, but his balloon was caught by the wind and struck a chimney. Sadler was thrown out of the basket and sustained fatal injuries, dying at 8.00 am the following morning. He was buried at Christ Church, Liverpool on 4 October.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sadler, Windham William
1796 births
1824 deaths
Aviators from Dublin (city)
Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in England
Irish balloonists
Irish people of English descent
Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1824