Who invented the hot air balloon?

The modern hot air balloon was invented in France during the late 18th century by the Mongolfier brothers, Jacques-Etienne and Joseph-Michel after discovering that heated air in light weight bag caused the bag to rise.

Launching their first balloon in 1783 in Annonay, France the brothers first sent a duck, sheep and a rooster up in a balloon successfully before the French the French scientist Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier because the first person to pilot an balloon ascent (even though it was safely tied to the ground!).