A George III mahogany longcase clock, William Dutton & Sons, London, circa 1795

Anthony Woodburn

Antiquarian Horology, Vol.28 No.2, June, 2004, p.132-133 (A Woodburn)

William Dutton (1720-1794) was apprenticed in 1738 to George Graham, partner of and successor to Thomas Tompion. Dutton became Free of the Clockmakers' Company in 1746 and was elevated to the Livery in 1766. George Graham died in 1751 and in 1755 Dutton went into partnership with another of Graham's former apprentices, Thomas Mudge, at 151 Fleet Street. The partnership flourished there until 1771 when Mudge decided to move back to his home city of Plymouth to concentrate on his marine chronometers. Dutton continued the business in Fleet Street, moving to 148. His son Matthew had been apprenticed to Thomas Mudge but was now turned over to him and , in 1776, he took his younger son, Thomas, as apprentice. For some time the business continued as Mudge & Dutton but Matthew gained his Freedom in 1779 and Thomas was Free in 1791. By this time the business had been renamed William Dutton & Sons. William Dutton died in 1794 (the same year that Thomas Mudge died) and between 1795 and 1800 the business had become Matthew & Thomas Dutton. However, the partnership was short lived and was dissolved in 1802. Matthew Dutton was Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1800 and continued his business in Fleet Street. Nothing is know of Thomas Dutton after 1802.The present longcase clock with its enamel dials and fine mouldings is of a style produced by Matthew Dutton and his partners for a period of approximately forty years. Their distinctive design could be regarded as having reached the pinnacle of English longcase clock elegance.