Benjamin Vulliamy
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Vulliamy was a clockmaker
responsible for building the Regulator Clock
, which, between 1780 and 1884, was the official regulator of time in London
.
, and married Mary, a daughter of the same, with whom he had Benjamin. Justin succeeded his father-in-law in the charge of the business and from 1780, his son Benjamin entered the society (Vulliamy & Son). Father and son worked together until the death of Justin, on 1 December 1797.
From an early age, Vulliamy had shown interest in pursuing his father's career. As an adult, he began to earn a reputation as a builder of mantel clock
s, decorative timepieces that adorned the halls of high society (nowadays, some can be found at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery
). His talent earned him a Royal Appointment in 1773, through which he came to receive an endowment of £150 a year as George III
's King's Clockmaker (there was a similar distinction, Royal Watchmaker, then held by George Lindsay). The king, an enthusiast for watches and mechanical devices, was patron of Justin Vulliamy, but only Benjamin received this significant honour.
Around 1780, Vulliamy was commissioned to build the Regulator Clock, the main timekeeper of the King's Observatory Kew
, which served as Prime Meridian
and was responsible for the official London time until 1884, when the Greenwich
assumed both roles.
In 1780 Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy
was born; he was the last Vulliamy to dedicate himself to the family clockmaking business
. None of his descendants took up the job, although his son, Lewis
, was a noted architect.
by the diplomatic mission of George Macartney
to Beijing
in 1793. Vulliamy clocks were combined with fine porcelain
figures to create artefacts that combined both science and art. The overall design was made by Vulliamy but he employed prize-winning sculptors such as John Deare
to create the figures that were influenced by contemporary French designs. The Vulliamy family used Crown Derby to make the figures from porcelain designs. One of Vulliamy's assistants, Jacques Planche, was a brother of Andrew Planche who had been involved in the early Derby Porcelain
business. The Vulliamy business also subcontracted much of the clocks' manufacture to other skilled artisans, and Vulliamy would only oversee and create the final adjustments before sale.
Clockmaker
A clockmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs clocks. Since almost all clocks are now factory-made, most modern clockmakers only repair clocks. Modern clockmakers may be employed by jewellers, antique shops, and places devoted strictly to repairing clocks and watches...
responsible for building the Regulator Clock
Pendulum clock
A pendulum clock is a clock that uses a pendulum, a swinging weight, as its timekeeping element. The advantage of a pendulum for timekeeping is that it is a resonant device; it swings back and forth in a precise time interval dependent on its length, and resists swinging at other rates...
, which, between 1780 and 1884, was the official regulator of time in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Biography
Benjamin Vulliamy was the son of Justin Vulliamy, a clockmaker of Swiss origin, who moved to London around 1730. Justin became an associate of Benjamin Gray, a watchmaker established in Pall MallPall Mall, London
Pall Mall is a street in the City of Westminster, London, and parallel to The Mall, from St. James's Street across Waterloo Place to the Haymarket; while Pall Mall East continues into Trafalgar Square. The street is a major thoroughfare in the St James's area of London, and a section of the...
, and married Mary, a daughter of the same, with whom he had Benjamin. Justin succeeded his father-in-law in the charge of the business and from 1780, his son Benjamin entered the society (Vulliamy & Son). Father and son worked together until the death of Justin, on 1 December 1797.
From an early age, Vulliamy had shown interest in pursuing his father's career. As an adult, he began to earn a reputation as a builder of mantel clock
Mantel clock
Mantel clocks — or shelf clocks — are relatively small house clocks traditionally placed on the shelf, or mantel, above the fireplace. The form, first developed in France in the 1750s, can be distinguished from earlier chamber clocks of similar size due to a lack of carrying handles.These clocks...
s, decorative timepieces that adorned the halls of high society (nowadays, some can be found at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery was established in 1879, along with Derby Central Library, in a new building designed by Richard Knill Freeman and given to Derby by Michael Thomas Bass. The collection includes a whole gallery displaying the paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby; there is also a large...
). His talent earned him a Royal Appointment in 1773, through which he came to receive an endowment of £150 a year as George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
's King's Clockmaker (there was a similar distinction, Royal Watchmaker, then held by George Lindsay). The king, an enthusiast for watches and mechanical devices, was patron of Justin Vulliamy, but only Benjamin received this significant honour.
Around 1780, Vulliamy was commissioned to build the Regulator Clock, the main timekeeper of the King's Observatory Kew
Kew Observatory
Kew Observatory was an astronomical and terrestrial magnetic observatoryfounded by King George III , located within the Old Deer Park of the former Richmond Palace in Richmond, Surrey, now within Greater London. The former royal manor of Kew lies to the immediate north...
, which served as Prime Meridian
Prime Meridian
The Prime Meridian is the meridian at which the longitude is defined to be 0°.The Prime Meridian and its opposite the 180th meridian , which the International Date Line generally follows, form a great circle that divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.An international...
and was responsible for the official London time until 1884, when the Greenwich
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
The Royal Observatory, Greenwich , in London, England played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and is best known as the location of the prime meridian...
assumed both roles.
In 1780 Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy
Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy
Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy was a clockmaker, active in 18th and 19th century Britain. He succeeded his father Benjamin Vulliamy as head of the firm and clockmaker to the king.-External links:....
was born; he was the last Vulliamy to dedicate himself to the family clockmaking business
Vulliamy family
The Vulliamy family was a family of clockmakers, Swiss in origin, active in 18th and 19th century Britain.* Justin Vulliamy , born in Switzerland, moved to London to study in the 1730s, ended up settling there, setting up a business in partnership with Benjamin Gray , who was in 1742 Gray appointed...
. None of his descendants took up the job, although his son, Lewis
Lewis Vulliamy
Lewis Vulliamy was an English architect belonging to the Vulliamy family of clockmakers.-Life:Lewis Vulliamy was the son of the clockmaker Benjamin Vulliamy. He was born in Pall Mall, London on 15 March 1791, and articled to Sir Robert Smirke...
, was a noted architect.
The Vulliamy clocks
Vulliamy clocks were of considerable value and represented the climax of technology at the time. A Vulliamy clock was presented to the Chinese emperorQianlong Emperor
The Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796...
by the diplomatic mission of George Macartney
George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney
George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney, KB was an Irish-born British statesman, colonial administrator and diplomat. He is often remembered for his observation following Britain's success in the Seven Years War and subsequent territorial expansion at the Treaty of Paris that Britain now controlled...
to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in 1793. Vulliamy clocks were combined with fine porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
figures to create artefacts that combined both science and art. The overall design was made by Vulliamy but he employed prize-winning sculptors such as John Deare
John Deare
John Deare was a British neo-classical sculptor. His nephew Joseph was also a sculptor.-Life:...
to create the figures that were influenced by contemporary French designs. The Vulliamy family used Crown Derby to make the figures from porcelain designs. One of Vulliamy's assistants, Jacques Planche, was a brother of Andrew Planche who had been involved in the early Derby Porcelain
Derby Porcelain
The production of Derby porcelain dates from the first half of the 18th century, although the authorship and the exact start of the production remains today as a matter of conjecture. The oldest remaining pieces in the late 19th century bore only the words «Darby» and «Darbishire» and the years...
business. The Vulliamy business also subcontracted much of the clocks' manufacture to other skilled artisans, and Vulliamy would only oversee and create the final adjustments before sale.