Lot Essay
John Ellicott F.R.S. (1706-1772) was the son of John Ellicott, a London watchmaker who was himself the son of a watchmaker from Bodmin, Cornwall. His workshops were his father's in Swithin's or Sweeting's Alley, Royal Exchange. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1738, serving on its council for three years. In 1760 he was joined in business by his son Edward and in 1762 he was appointed Clockmaker to the King.