Ever wonder how streets get their names? Rue du Chevalier de l’Espinard in Lille carries a tale worth telling. It is a story linked to daring flights and a touch of exaggeration.
This street remembers Joseph Paris de l’Espinard. He was not born a nobleman but he certainly aimed for the stars. More precisely he aimed for the sky.
The story of Rue du Chevalier de l’Espinard begins in 1785. Jean-Pierre Blanchard a famous aeronaut, planned a balloon flight from Lille. Blanchard had already crossed the English Channel by balloon.
Joseph Paris de l’Espinard joined Blanchard on this adventure. The flight on August 26 1785 would last seven hours. It ended in Servons far from Lille. The painter Louis Watteau captured this event in a painting. You can see it today at the Musee Comtesse.
De l’Espinard’s presence on that balloon is why we remember him. Our local street is named in his honor. But, his story has some interesting details. De l’Espinard claimed his noble title came from serving with Lafayette during the American Revolution. The truth is his name was simply Joseph Paris.
De l’Espinard had a flair for the dramatic. He exaggerated the distance of his balloon flight. He claimed they traveled one hundred thirty-three leagues. The actual distance was sixty-three leagues.
He also ran Lille’s newspaper called “la Feuille des Flandres.” A fitting role for such a character. He loved titles and being in the spotlight. His balloon flight made him a local celebrity. The city even created a giant figure of him in the 1970s.
The tale of the Chevalier de l’Espinard reminds us that history is not always straightforward. It is full of colorful characters. Some embellish their stories. Others leave a lasting legacy. Rue du Chevalier de l’Espinard honors a man who dared to fly. He may have stretched the truth but he captured the imagination of Lille.