
1824 – Born Jean-Francois Emile Gravelet on the 28th of February in St. Omer, France. French funambulist or acrobat.
1829 – At the age of five years old he was sent to the École de Gymnase at Lyon.
– After six months training as an acrobat, made his first public appearance as "The Little Wonder".
1933 – Blondin was orphaned and he began performing professionally.
1851 – Blondin was recruited by the agent of Mr. William Niblo to perform with the Ravel Troupe at Niblo’s Garden.
1853 – He met and married his wife, Charlotte, in New York.
1858 – Blondin became obsessed with the idea of crossing the falls the first time he saw them.
1859 – Blondin was allowed to string his wire a mile further down-stream and on June 30th, he was the first man ever to cross Niagara Falls by tightrope.
– A large crowd of 100,000 people watched him walk on a single three-inch hemp cord, 1,100 feet long and 160 feet above the falls at one side and 270 feet at the other.
– He increased the risk by carrying his manager, Harry Colcord, across on his back on August 17th.
1861 – Blondin first appeared in London, at the Crystal Palace.
– At the request of the Prince of Wales, he appeared in London at the Crystal Palace, reenacting all his Niagara Falls stunts before a backdrop of the falls.
1862 – He again gave a series of performances at the Crystal Palace, and in England.
1873 – He crossed Edgbaston Reservoir in Birmingham.
1896 – His final performance was given in Belfast, Ireland, at the age of 68.
1897 – He died of diabetes on 19th of February in Ealing, London at the age of 73 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.
1992 – A statue built on the nearby Ladywood Middleway marks his feat.