Phaeton (carriage) most impressive phaeton was the English four-wheeled high flyer. The mail and spider phaetons were more conservatively constructed. The mail phaeton was used chiefly to carry passengers with luggage and was named for its construction, using "mail" springs originally designed for use on mail coaches. The spider phaeton, of American origin and made for gentlemen drivers, was a high and lightly constructed carriage with a covered seat in front and a footman's seat behind. Fashionable phaetons used at horse shows included the Stanhope, typically having a high seat and closed back, and the Tilbury, a two-wheeled carriage with an elaborate
HMS Phaeton (1782) awarded the survivors to that date of all the vessels at the battle, including "Phaeton", the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "1 June 1794". In September, "Phaeton" came under the command of Captain Stopford. In May 1795 "Phaeton" escorted Princess Caroline of Brunswick to England. Then began what would become a spectacular string of prize-taking. During Stopford's service in the Channel, "Phaeton" captured some 13 privateers and three vessels of war, and also recovered numerous vessels that the French had taken. On 10 March 1796, "Phaeton" engaged and captured the French corvette "Bonne Citoyenne" off Cape Finisterre. She was