Phaeton (carriage) Roger Button, Benjamin's father, owns a phaeton that is his primary mode of transportation until Benjamin buys the first automobile in Baltimore. In Susannah Kells' novel "Fallen Angels", a phaeton is the transportation of choice for the main character, Campion, who later crashes the carriage in a perfect example of its dangerous and fickle reputation. The character Mr. Spenlow from the novel "David Copperfield" dies suddenly of a heart attack while driving his phaeton home. Henry James, in his short story "An International Episode" (1878) has Lord Lambeth driven through town in "a little basket-phaeton" by his companion Bessie Aldon.
French brig Phaeton (1804) French brig Phaeton (1804) The French brig "Phaeton" was a "Palinure"-class brig launched in 1804. The British captured her in 1806 and renamed her HMS "Mignonne". In 1807 they renamed her HMS "Musette". She was sold in 1814. "Phaéton" was stationed at Hellevoetsluis under the command of "lieutenant de vaisseau" Saulces de Freycinet. Between 7 September and 16 October 1805, she conducted a patrol in the North Sea. Shortly thereafter the French Navy dispatched her to the Antilles on a mission. On 25 March 1806, off Puerto Rico, "Phaéton" and her sister-ship "Voltigeur" encountered . Both sides exchanged fire for