John Jeffries

Balloonist and physician, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. A loyalist during the American Revolution, he settled in England and made the first balloon crossing of the English Channel with the French aeronaut Blanchard in 1785.

Dr. John Jeffries (1745-1819) was a Boston physician, scientist, and a military surgeon with the British army in Nova Scotia and New York during the American Revolution. He is best known for accompanying Jean-Pierre Blanchard on his 1785 balloon flight across the English Channel. Dr. John Jeffries also played a large role in the trial for the Boston Massacre.