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) HMS Phaeton (1883) HMS "Phaeton" was a second class cruiser of the "Leander" class which served with the Royal Navy. She was built by Napier in Glasgow, being laid down in 1880, launched in 1883 and completed in 1886. "The "Phaeton" has been tried in the Solent. At the previous six hour' full power trial of the "Phaeton" there was a difficulty experienced in maintaining steam from want of draught in the stokeholds. (Only the "Leander" of this class has been fitted with fans for forced draught.) The funnels were afterwards raised from to (the same height as those of