John Whitehurst
John Whitehurst was born in 1713 and was baptised at Congleton parish church. His father, John Whitehurst senior was also a Clockmaker and it is believed that he may have signed his clocks, ‘John Whithurst’, as high quality provincial clocks from the period he worked have been found to bear this name. John Whitehurst had eight children; the eldest being John. John (junior) trained as a clock maker under his father after leaving school at 14. After completing his apprenticeship at the age of 21, he is thought to have moved from Congleton and visited Dublin and then London where he gained knowledge and inspiration from other clock mechanisms.By the late 1730’s, John Whitehurst had settled in Derby after being granted the Borough’s freedom.
References :
Brian Loomes. Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World (NAG Press, 2006).
Antiquarian Horology Journal, Vol 4, p240.
