History: Constructed between 1808 and 1809, this watch was first sold on 22 November 1810 to a Monsieur Barillon from the Ille de France for the sum of 1900 Francs. Returned on 21 January 1826 by a Doctor Pontier who wished to resell, the watch was bought back by Breguet on 14 February 1826 for 900 Francs. It was renovated to new condition, fitted with an engine-turned silver dial by Tavernier and the case restored by Joly. Transferred to No. 4570, the watch was resold to Count Pozzo di Borgo on 25 July 1826. It was returned for overhaul on 9 April 1829, the 21 June 1830 and 10 July 1834 at the request of Son Excellence l'Ambassadeur de Russie, Comte Pozzo di Borgo . Subsequently, and always at the request of the Count, the watch returned for regular overhauls and adjustments on 29 July 1834 ( adjustment), the 17 May 1836, the 19 April 1842, the 29 June 1842 (adjustment), the 9 January 1844 and 1 June 1847. The escapement was restored on 24 December 1847 following an accident, and further overhauls were carried out on 9 November 1848, the 30 January 1852 and 2 December 1857, again on these occasions for Pozzo di Borgo, who was now noted in the books with the title of Duke. (Evidently the owner took serious note of Breguet's advice suggesting that a precision watch should be overhauled every two years). Literature: Illustrated and described in G. Daniels, The Art of Breguet, p. 162, fig. 111 a-c. Note: The caliber of this movement is very similar to watches No. 147 and 144/3288 (Lots 11 and 65) ; begun at the same time, before Breguet's departure for Switzerland and not completed until some years after his return. For relevant notes refer to lots 11 and 65.
Carlo Andrea COUNT POZZO DI BORGO (1764 -1842)
Carlo Andrea Pozzo di Borgo, diplomat and politician, was born in Alata in Corsica. His family was wealthy and influential amongst the small Corsican nobility, and early in his career Pozzo di Borgo became secretary to Paoli, the General and leader of the Corsican movement demanding self government. Elected to the Legislative Assembly in October 1791, he was a staunch supporter of King Louis XVI, but when nominated as Governor of the island, he became an active Paolist and backed the English Viceroy Eliot after the island was ceeded to England. In 1796 following the re-establishment of French rule, Pozzo di Borgo was forced to flee to Great Britain. He moved to Vienna some two years later, before entering the service of Czar Alexander I in 1803. At the Russian court he lobbied vociferously against Napoleon and his policies. He devised a plan of action to be taken against France, in line with the interests of the third coalition, but it was to come to nought following the battle of Austerlitz and the treaty of Presburg in December 1805, which resulted in the total collapse of the Austro-Russian diplomatic ambitions. Expelled from the Russian court at the demand of Napoleon in 1807, Pozzo di Borgo returned to England where his implacable hostily towards Imperial France enabled him eventually to rally Bernadotte to support the Coalition cause. After Napoleon's first abdication in 1813, he was restored to grace by Alexander l, promoted to General, and then made special envoy from the Czar to the court of Louis XVIII. He advised the King to accept the Charter of 1814, attended the Congress of Vienna in the following months and became Russian Ambassador to France; a post that he was to hold until 1834. Throughout this period he worked for the return of good relations between Russia and France, a course of action that was not readily accepted by the royalists and Chancellor Metternich of Austria. Appointed Russian ambassador to London in 1834, he remained in England until 1839, continuing to vigorously pursue the interests of his adopted country, but returned to'Paris upon his retirement from diplomatic life and died there in 1842. Pozzo di Borgo had been a clever and able man, but an impenitent renegade throughout his career; he left behind a mass of correspondence giving an interesting insight into the diplomatic life of his age.