John Ellicott was an eminent English clock and watchmaker of the 18th century.

His father, a Cornishman, John Ellicott (-1733), was also a clockmaker and had been admitted to the Clockmakers' Company in 1696. John Ellicott (jnr) conducted business first from Austin Friars Street EC2 and later from Swithin’s Alley, Royal Exchange

Royal Exchange (London)

The Royal Exchange in the City of London was founded in 1565 by Sir Thomas Gresham to act as a centre of commerce for the city. The site was provided by the City of London Corporation and the Worshipful Company of Mercers, and is trapezoidal, flanked by the converging streets of Cornhill and...

, and in 1738 was elected Fellow of the Royal Society. He showed a keen interest in scientific matters and maintained an observatory at his home in Hackney

Hackney (parish)

Hackney was a parish in the historic county of Middlesex. The parish church of St John-at-Hackney was built in 1789, replacing the nearby former 16th century parish church dedicated to St Augustine . The original tower of that church was retained to hold the bells until the new church could be...

. He was best-known for his work on temperature compensated pendulums and his use of the cylinder escapement. His quality workmanship led to an appointment as Clockmaker to George III

George III of the United Kingdom

George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...

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His son Edward (-1791), joined the business in 1760. Over their twelve-year partnership, their clocks were simply signed Ellicott, London.