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) from "Hussar", captured a fort from the French at Sumenep on the island of Madura, off Java. The British lost three men killed and 28 wounded. Pellew sailed "Phaeton" home in August 1812, escorting a convoy of East Indiamen. For his services he received a present of 500 guineas and the thanks of the East India Company. In 1816, Capt. Frances Stanfell sailed "Phaeton" from Sheerness, bound for Saint Helena and the Cape of Good Hope. In April 1818, Capt. W. H. Dillon commissioned "Phaeton". In the autumn of 1818 Lieutenant John Geary, who had joined "Phaeton" at her re-commissioning,