Portrait Gallery

There is no horological institution in the world which can boast such a long and distinguished membership of famous clock, watch and instrument makers, as The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers of London.

Although the name of every member is known, very few portraits and engravings of 17th, 18th and 19th century freemen and liverymen of the Company survive. A selection of those that do is displayed below. See listing of all Past Masters.

From left to right:-

1. Elias Allen (d. 1654 ?), an instrument maker, elected Master of the Company in 1636. This is the oldest surviving portrait of a Master of the Company.
2. Thomas Tompion (1639 – 1713) of Water Lane, Fleet Street. “The Father of English Clockmaking”. Elected Master in 1703.
3. George Graham F.R.S (1673– 1751) of Water Lane, Fleet Street: mentor of John Harrison, elected Master in 1722.



From left to right:-

4. Thomas Mudge (1715 – 1794) of Fleet Street, inventor of the lever escapement. Freeman of the Company 15th January 1738.
5. John Arnold (c.1735 – 1799) of Devereux Court, the Strand and Cornhill, chronometer maker, freeman 1783, Liveryman 1796.
6. Alexander Cumming (1732 – 1814) of New Bond Street, clock and chronometer maker, Honorary Freeman 1781.



From left to right:-

7. Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy (1780 – 1854) , Master 1821, 1823, 1825, 1827, 1847, Clock Maker to King George IV. King William IV and Queen Victoria.
8. Benjamin Vulliamy ( 1747 – 1811) Clock Maker to King George III. Hon. Freeman 1781, father of the above
9. George Atkins (1767 – 1855) Clerk of the Company, then Master (1845), partner in the firm of chronometer makers, Brockbank & Atkins.

Please remember that all images shown here are copyright. Colour pictures of many objects in the Collection may however be obtained through the Bridgeman Art Library.