First Airmail Letter

January 10, 1793, Jean Pierre Blanchard made the first US balloon flight. The event was such a big deal, Brother George Washington, US President, was in attendance.  Blanchard did not speak English, so Washington provided him with a letter of introduction addressed to the owner of any property where Blanchard landed.  Blanchard presented his letter when he landed in Deptford, Gloucester County, New Jersey, making Brother Washington, officially, the first person in the US to send an airmail letter.

The letter read: "George Washington, President of the United States of America, to all to whom these presents shall come. The bearer hereof, Mr. Blanchard a citizen of France, proposing to ascend in a balloon from the city of Philadelphia, at 10 o’clock, A.M. this day, to pass in such direction and to descend in such place as circumstances may render most convenient — These are therefore to recommend to all citizens of the United States, and others, that in his passage, descent, return or journeying elsewhere, they oppose no hindrance or molestation to the said Mr. Blanchard; And, that on the contrary, they receive and aid him with that humanity and good will which may render honor to their country, and justice to an individual so distinguished by his efforts to establish and advance an art, in order to make it useful to mankind in general.

"Given under my hand and seal at the city of Philadelphia, this ninth day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety three, and of the independence of America the seventeenth."