Phaeton (carriage) Phaeton (carriage) A phaeton (also phaéton) was a form of sporty open carriage popular in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Drawn by one or two horses, a phaeton typically featured a minimal very lightly sprung body atop four extravagantly large wheels. With open seating, it was both fast and dangerous, giving rise to its name, drawn from the mythical Phaëton, son of Helios, who nearly set the earth on fire while attempting to drive the chariot of the sun. With the advent of the automobile, the term was adapted to open touring cars, also known as phaetons. The
HMS Phaeton (1782) sailed from Nantes on the 17 of February and ten days later had captured the packet ship "Princess Elizabeth", which was her only prize. On 28 May, "Phaeton", , and the hired armed lugger "Speedwell" detained "Frederickstadt". On 16 September "Phaeton" took the 6-gun "Chasseur". Then two days later she took the privateer "Brunette". Then with "Unite" she took 16-gun "Indien" on 24 September off the Roches Bonnes. On 9 October "Unite" captured "Découverte", with the 32-gun frigate "Stag" and "Phaeton" in company. "Phaeton" also recaptured three British vessels. These were "Adamant" (24 September), "Arcade" (3 October), and "Recovery" (20