Thomas Tompion

Lore & Background

Thomas Tompion was born around 1639 and was baptized on 25 July 1639 in Northill, Bedfordshire, England. The family cottage in Ickwell, his home hamlet in the parish of Northill, bears a plaque erected in his honor by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1952. He was the eldest son of a blacksmith, also named Thomas Tompion, and probably worked as a blacksmith until 1664 when he became an apprentice of a London clockmaker. The first reference to Tompion in London is recorded around the end of 1670 in Water Lane (now Whitefriars Street) off Fleet Street. His early clockmaking style shows a strong connection with Joseph Knibb. Tompion's most important early patron was the scientist Robert Hooke, who may well have known the Knibb family, as both were in Oxford. Hooke's relationship with Tompion was the key to his success, as it opened doors to royal patronage as well as giving him access to the latest technology. Tompion's excellence was based on the sound design of his productions as well as the high quality of the materials used. This, together with the outstanding skills of the workmen he employed, gave him an unrivalled reputation throughout the known world. Many of these workmen had French and Dutch Huguenot origins, for example Daniel and Nicholas Delander, Henry Callot and Charles Molyns. Tompion was an early member of the Clockmakers' Company of London – he joined in 1671 and became a master in 1704. When the Royal Observatory was established in 1676, King Charles II selected Tompion to create two identical clocks based on Hooke's idea of a very long pendulum swinging in a very small arc. These were fixed in the Octagon room, each was driven by a deadbeat escapement designed by Richard Towneley, with both clocks only needing to be wound once a year. They proved to be very accurate and were instrumental in achieving the correct calculations needed for astronomical observations. Due to his relationship with Robert Hooke, he made some of the first watches with balance springs. One of these was made for King Charles II and was signed "Robert Hooke invent. 1658. T. Tompion fecit, 1675". William Derham mentions this in his book The Artificial Clockmaker. This watch, it seems, has not survived. Tompion's workshop built about 5,500 watches and 650 clocks during his career. Another of Tompion's innovations was to create a numbering system for his spring and longcase clocks, which is thought to be the first time that a serial numbering system was applied to manufactured goods. Tompion went into partnership with Edward Banger in 1701 until about 1707 or 1708, when it was dissolved. From around 1711 it was George Graham who was in partnership with Tompion. Thomas Tompion died on 20 November 1713 and was buried in Westminster Abbey, George Graham being buried alongside him in 1751. There is also a memorial to him within Westminster Abbey.

Reader's Guide

Thomas Tompion's significance rests on his foundational role in English clockmaking and his contributions to precision timekeeping. His workshop produced about 5,500 watches and 650 clocks, many of which are still operational today, including two of his one-year clocks in Buckingham Palace. His numbering system for spring and longcase clocks is thought to be the first serial numbering system applied to manufactured goods. Tompion's relationship with Robert Hooke led to the creation of some of the first balance spring watches, and his two identical clocks for the Royal Observatory, driven by a deadbeat escapement designed by Richard Towneley, needed winding only once a year and were instrumental for astronomical observations. Examples of his work include a longcase clock with astronomical dial circa 1680 at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; a year duration spring clock with grand sonnerie striking known as the "Mostyn Tompion" at the British Museum; an eight-day double pull repeating table clock at Moyse's Hall Museum; and one of the first watches with a spiral balance spring at the Science Museum. The sundials in Kew Gardens and Hampton Court Gardens, both circa 1680, are also his work. The modern Swiss wristwatch brand "Tompion" of the so-called "British Masters" series has no connection either with Thomas Tompion or the original firm of that name.

Did You Know?

• Tompion's family cottage in Ickwell bears a plaque erected in his honor by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1952.
• He made a watch for King Charles II signed 'Robert Hooke invent. 1658. T. Tompion fecit, 1675', which has not survived.
• Tompion's workshop built about 5,500 watches and 650 clocks during his career.
• He created a numbering system for his spring and longcase clocks, thought to be the first serial numbering system applied to manufactured goods.
• Tompion was buried in Westminster Abbey, and George Graham was buried alongside him in 1751.