Andre-Jaques Garnerin (1769-1823). 1867 illustration of the French aeronaut, balloonist and inventor of the frameless parachute Andre-Jaques Garnerin. On 22nd October 1797 Garnerin made the world's first successful parachute jump from a balloon above Parc Monceau, Paris, France, at a height of around 1000 metres. After cutting loose from the balloon, his umbrella-shaped seven-metre-diameter parachute gave him a hard but safe landing. He went on to give exhibitions of parachuting in cities throughout northern Europe.