History

Century

George Auguste Leschot

History of Watchmaking

Birth of Georges-Auguste Leschot in Geneva (where he died in 1884), another pioneer of mechanised production and interchangeable parts.


World history

World population estimated at one billion.
Beginning of the industrialisation era.
Washington became the capital of the United States.


Swiss history

1798. French troops invaded and occupied Switzerland, leading to instauration of the Helvetic Republic. Revolutionary trade legislation was introduced, which disadvantaged watchmaking.