I believe that early parachute designs were invented by Leonardo de Vinci. He thought of them as a quick way to escape castles if invaders got inside or something.
WHAT HUMAN INVENTED SKYDIVING AND WHY? LIKE WHO THOUGHT "HEY, LET'S JUMP OUT OF A PLANE AT THOUSANDS OF FEET IN THE AIR AND RISK GOING SPLAT LIKE A BUG FOR FUN"