The first known variation of the hot air balloon was the Chinese sky lantern, which was used in the 3rd century B.C. for military signaling. In the early 18th century, the predecessor to the modern hot air balloon, Passarola, was designed by a Portuguese Jesuit Priest, Bartolomeu de Gusmão, and brought into life through the funding of John V of Portugal. The hot air balloon was designed in 1983 by the Montgolfier brothers. This invention was advanced into the modern hot air balloon by Ed Yost in the 20th century.