Jean Francois Hobler
Encyclopedia
Jean Francois Hobler was born in Morges
, Vaud
, Switzerland
in February 1727. Having migrated from Switzerland
to London
in the early to mid 18th century, John Francis Hobler (as he was commonly known) married Charlotte Elizabeth Claudon, circa 1753.
A watch and clock maker based in Soho Square
, he worked with his son Jean Paul Hobler. The Hobler & Son
workshop was based in Porter Street in Newport Market
. Their watches were renowned for the blending of Huguenot
silver techniques with traditional watchmaking. A popular middle class accessory, Hobler watches were also exported to America
and the East Indies
.
John Francis Hobler and wife Charlotte had four children of whom two were well known throughout London aristocracy. Youngest son, James Francis Helvetius Hobler
was the Principal Clerk to the Lord Mayors of London
for more than 50 years. James Francis Hobler is mentioned in the writings of Charles Dickens
and George Augustus Sala. His eldest son, Jean Paul Hobler, was a respected alto tenor who gave grand performances at Westminster Abbey
, the Drury Lane Theatre
and Coleman's Theatre.
Jean Francis Hobler died 25 June 1794 in St Anne, Soho, London, England.
Morges
Morges is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Vaud, located in the district of Morges and is also the seat of the district.-History:...
, Vaud
Vaud
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in February 1727. Having migrated from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the early to mid 18th century, John Francis Hobler (as he was commonly known) married Charlotte Elizabeth Claudon, circa 1753.
A watch and clock maker based in Soho Square
Soho Square
Soho Square is a square in Soho, London, England, with a park and garden area at its centre that dates back to 1681. It was originally called King Square after Charles II, whose statue stands in the square. At the centre of the garden, there is a distinctive half-timbered gardener's hut...
, he worked with his son Jean Paul Hobler. The Hobler & Son
Hobler & Son
Hobler & Son can refer to:* Jean Paul Hobler, watch and clock maker, alto tenor* Jean Francois Hobler, Huguenot watch and clock maker and exporter...
workshop was based in Porter Street in Newport Market
Newport Market
Newport Market is a traditional Victorian indoor market, built in 1854 in Newport, South Wales.It is an early example of a large-span cast iron-frame building featuring a glass-filled barrel roof...
. Their watches were renowned for the blending of Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
silver techniques with traditional watchmaking. A popular middle class accessory, Hobler watches were also exported to America
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
and the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
.
John Francis Hobler and wife Charlotte had four children of whom two were well known throughout London aristocracy. Youngest son, James Francis Helvetius Hobler
James Francis Helvetius Hobler
James Francis Helvetius Hobler was born in January 1764 in London, England, the son of eminent watch maker and exporter Jean Francois Hobler and wife Charlotte Elizabeth Claudon....
was the Principal Clerk to the Lord Mayors of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for more than 50 years. James Francis Hobler is mentioned in the writings of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
and George Augustus Sala. His eldest son, Jean Paul Hobler, was a respected alto tenor who gave grand performances at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
, the Drury Lane Theatre
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
and Coleman's Theatre.
Jean Francis Hobler died 25 June 1794 in St Anne, Soho, London, England.