Le Roy A watchmaking dynasty founded by Bazile-Charles Le Roy, whose father, Bazile Le Roy, was himself a fine watchmaker. Bazile- Charles Le Roy settled in the Palais Royal in 1788, first at 88, Galerie de Pierre, then at 13-15 of the same Galerie. He signed: Le Roy, Palais Royal, or Le Roy, Galerie Egalité. During the Reign of Terror, Le Roy adopted the anagram Eylor, only using his real name again after the Revolution. During the First Empire, Le Roy supplied watches and clocks to the Imperial family and in 1806 was appointed Clockmaker to Madame Mère, the Emperor's mother. His signature became: Le Roy, Hgr de S A I & R (Son Altesse Impériale et Royale), Madame Mère de l'Empereur et Roi. Le Roy?s son Louis-Charles began working wiith him around 1815, and in 1827 they became associates, signing ?Le Roy & Fils Palais Royal?. In 1828 Louis-Charles became head of the firm. In 1834, Le Roy was appointed ?Horloger du Roi? and ?Horloger de la Marine?, and shortly thereafter, ?Fournisseur du Duc d?Orléans?. In 1845, Louis-Charles Le Roy sold the firm to Casimir Halley Desfontaines, with the stipulation that the name Le Roy & Fils remain unchanged. In 1855, Le Roy & Fils first exhibited electric clocks at the Paris Exhiition, together with keyless watches, improved by Adrien Philippe for the company. Soon afterwards, Philippe left for Geneva to join the Patek Philippe firm. In 1856, Le Roy & Fils opened a branch in London at 211 Regent Street, and in 1862 they exhibited complicated watches with perpetual calendar, carriage clocks and marine chronometers at the London Exhibition. In 1866, Le Roy & Fils were named ?Horlogers de la Marine Impériale? in France, and ?Watchmakers to Her Majesty the Queen?, in England. During the years that followed, the firm won several gold and silver medals at the International Exhibitions. In 1879, Louis Leroy, the son of celebrated chronometer maker Théodore-Marie Leroy, joined the company. In 1833, Georges Desfontaines succeeded his father Casimir as the head of the firm. Upon Georges Desfontaines? death in 1888, his brother Jules took over. In December of that same year, Jules Desfontaines became associated with Louis Leroy, the company name becoming ?Ancienne Maison Le Roy & Fils, L. Leroy & Cie, Successeurs?. A workshop was opened in Besançon in 1892, and a trade mark registered. In 1899 L. Leroy & Cie moved to No. 7, Bd de la Madeleine. In 1914, Louis Leroy went into partnership with his brother Léon, the firm?s name becoming ?Le Roy & Fils, L. Leroy, Successeurs?. In 1919 they bought the stock of Lépine, in the Place des Victoires. In 1935, Louis Leroy died; after the death of Léon Leroy in 1961, the firm was run by his sons Pierre and Philippe.