Thomas Tompion

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Thomas Tompion (1639-1713) was an English master clockmaker and watchmaker known today as the father of English watchmaking.

Thomas Tompion was born around 1639 and was baptized July 25, 1639 in Northill, Bedfordshire, England. Tompion probably worked as a blacksmith until 1664 when he became an apprentice of a London clockmaker.

Tompion was an early member of the Clockmakers' Company of London - he joined 1671 and became a master in 1704. He was also one of the few watchmakers to become a member of the Royal Society. He briefly joined in partnership with Edward Banger in 1701.

When the Royal Observatory was established in 1676, King Charles II's selected Tompion to create two clocks that would be wound only once a year. They proved to be very accurate and were instrumental in the accurate calculations for astronomers.

Due to his relationship with the scientist Robert Hooke he made some of the first watches with balance springs. These were much more accurate than earlier watches. He also invented the cylinder escapement that allowed him to create flat watches. He also worked on the spring escapement.

Tompion's clocks are known for their ingenuity of design and robust construction. His three-train grand sonnerie bracket clocks are masterpieces. Another of his innovations was to create a numbering system for his spring and long-case clocks which is thought to be the first time that a serial numbering system was applied to manufactured goods.

In 1711 Tompion joined in partnership with George Graham, who later developed the spring escapement further after Tompion's death. He also continued Tompion's scheme to number his watches in three series: plain, repeating and special.

Thomas Tompion died in November 20, 1713 and was buried in the Westminster Abbey. Many of his clocks are still operational today, including two of his one-year clocks in the Buckingham Palace.