Thomas Mudge (horologist)

Thomas Mudge (1715 – 14 November 1794, London) was an English horologist who invented the lever escapement, a technological improvement to the pocket watch.

He was born in Exeter, but when he was young, the family moved to Bideford, where his father became headmaster of the grammar school.

[1] In 1748 Mudge set himself up in business at 151 Fleet Street, and began to advertise for work as soon as his old master, George Graham, died in 1751.

A similar controversy had arisen when John Harrison had been denied the full amount of the 1714 prize by the Board of Longitude.

In 1770 George III purchased a large gold watch produced by Mudge, that incorporated his lever escapement.