Made his first balloon ascent at 5 a.m. on 27 August 1784 at a height of 350 feet he flew for half a mile across the Edinburgh (predating the flights of Vincenzo Lunardi in London). Made four attempts at manned flight, his fourth on 11 October 1784 when his balloon crashed. His achievement was recognized in Lunardi's Account of 'Five Aerial Voyages in Scotland' published in 1786.