Ildebrando Zacchini | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1868 |
| Died | July 17, 1948 (aged 79–80) |
| Resting place | Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, Tampa |
| Nationality | Maltese |
| Known for | human cannonball act |
| Spouse | Madelina Dal Paos (1872 – 1963) |
| Children | Hugo Zacchini, Edmondo Zacchini |
Ildebrando Zacchini (1868 – July 17, 1948) was a Maltese-born painter, inventor, and travelling circus owner.[1]
Inspired by the works of Jules Verne, Zacchini came up with an idea for a human cannonball act.[2] Instead of explosives, Zacchini's human-firing cannon used compressed air, and he first tested it on his son Hugo Zacchini.
The idea for the cannonball act was initially proposed to the Italian government as a military maneuver to be used in conjunction with parachutes; when the proposal was rejected Zacchini looked to use the technique as part of an entertainment act.[3]
Zacchini died in Tampa, Florida in 1948. Members of the Zacchini family were later inducted into the Ringling Brothers Circus Hall of Fame.