Charles Blondin, French tightrope walker and acrobat (b. 1824)
Charles Blondin (born Jean François Gravelet, 28 February 1824 – 22 February 1897) was a French tightrope walker and acrobat. He toured the United States and was known for crossing the 1,100 ft (340 m) Niagara Gorge on a tightrope.
During an event in Dublin in 1860, the rope on which he was walking broke and two workers were killed, although Blondin was not injured.
He married three times and had eight children. His name became synonymous with tightrope walking.

1897Feb, 22
Charles Blondin
Choose Another Date
Events on 1897
- 22Jun
Chapekar brothers
British colonial officers Charles Walter Rand and Lt. Charles Egerton Ayerst are assassinated in Pune, Maharashtra, India by the Chapekar brothers and Mahadeo Vinayak Ranade, who are later caught and hanged. - 26Jul
Siege of Malakand
Anglo-Afghan War: The Pashtun fakir Saidullah leads an army of more than 10,000 to begin a siege of the British garrison in the Malakand Agency of the North West Frontier Province of India. - 2Aug
Siege of Malakand
Anglo-Afghan War: The Siege of Malakand ends when a relief column is able to reach the British garrison in the Malakand states. - 31Aug
Kinetoscope
Thomas Edison patents the Kinetoscope, the first movie projector. - 12Sep
Battle of Saragarhi
Tirah Campaign: Battle of Saragarhi.