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 (1883) commissioned and warrant officers as follows: The "Phaeton" was in ordinary at Chatham from 1893 to 1896. The "Phaeton" was commissioned for the 1896 annual manoeuvres on 8 July 1896, and paid off on 19 August. "Phaeton" was commissioned at Devonport on 8 June 1897. She was present at the Naval Review on 26 June 1897 at Spithead in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. By November 1897 she was serving on the Pacific station. At this time the British naval force on the Pacific Station consisted of: On 1 August 1900, the "Phaeton" narrowly avoided colliding with the USS