Introduction
Jacques Benjamin de Lesseps was a French aviator born in Paris on 5 July 1883, killed in an air accident presumably on 18 October 1927 along with his flight engineer Theodor Chichenko. He was the son of French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps. In 1910 he married Grace Mackenzie, daughter of Sir Willam Mackenzie.
Early aviation career
Military career
De Lesseps served with distinction in the French Air Force, commanding a squadron. He joined the Compagnie Aerienne Franco-Canadienne in air survey work after the war.
Death
He and his flight engineer were lost at sea during air photography operations along the Gaspé, Quebec coastline in October 1927.
A cairn erected to his memory exists near Gaspé. It records that de Lesseps was the second man to fly the English Channel by airplane. He was a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, held the Croix de Guerre and the United States Distinguished Service Cross.