Both in England and in France from the middle of the 18th century, the gradual evolution of marine timekeepers (chronometers) could be regarded as a facet in the development of portable clocks designed for journeys. The first authentic carriage clock was made in Paris at the start of the 19th Century under the auspices of the great Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823), the most inspired of all watchmakers. Carriage clocks are also known in France as “Officer’s clocks” and the name is based on an historical anecdote. It is said that Napoleon, having almost lost a major battle because one of his officers was late, ordered his military chiefs to carry a carriage clock with them at all times. Orders placed with master clockmakers always included the reference “a clock for an officer” and this brought the name into common parlance.