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) "Charente" near the Cordouan lighthouse. "Phaeton" fired on "Charente", chasing her first into range of the guns of the 74-gun Third Rate , under the command of Captain Sir John Borlase Warren, with whom she exchanged broadsides. "Charente" grounded, but then so did "Canada". "Phaeton" and "Anson" had to abandon the chase to pull "Canada" free. In the meantime, "Charente" threw her guns overboard, floated free, and reached the river of Bordeaux, much the worse for wear. With "Anson", "Phaeton" took the 18-gun privateer "Mercure" on 31 August. "Mercure" was pierced for 20 guns and had a crew of 132