Who invented the parachute and when?

The concept of the parachute dates back to Leonardo da Vinci, who sketched an early design for a parachute around 1485. However, it wasn’t until 1783 that André-Jacques Garnerin, a French inventor, made the first successful parachute jump. Garnerin’s parachute was made from silk and used a circular canopy, which opened to slow the descent. His successful jump from a hot air balloon at an altitude of 3,200 feet is considered the first true parachute jump. The invention of the parachute has since evolved, and modern designs are made with much stronger materials and improved safety mechanisms.