James Glaisher (April 7, 1809 - February 7, 1903), was an English meteorologist and aeronaut. He was Superintendent of the Department of Meteorology and Magnetism at the Royal Greenwich Observatories for 34 years. In 1845, he published his dew point tables, for the measurement of humidity. He is best remembered as a pioneering balloonist. Between 1862 and 1866 he made numerous ascents in order to measure the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere at its highest levels. His ascent on September 5, 1862 broke the world record for altitude, but he passed out around 28,870 feet before a reading could be taken. Estimates suggest that he rose to more than 31, 000 feet and as much as 35,800 feet above sea level. He died in 1903 at the age of 93.