Stanislaus Fournier (????-1853)
Clockmaker Stanislaus Fournier was born in St. Aubin de Cauf in Normandy and apprenticed with the Lepaute firm of Paris. Lepaute sent Fournier to install a large clock in New Orleans’ St. Louis Hotel in 1841 or 1842. Prompted by the lack of clock and watchmakers in the city, Fournier opened a shop on Toulouse Street after his seven month St. Louis Hotel project was complete. Fournier soon relocated to 60 Royal Street, where he worked for twenty years, his shop becoming a French Quarter landmark. His apprentice, E. Barbier remained at the Royal Street location for another thirty years.
Fournier’s accomplishments include the three-faced church clock installed at St. Louis Cathedral in 1851, the development of a four hand stopwatch for horse racing in 1855, and the invention of a “tell-tale” register clock in 1857. Fournier died in 1853 and is buried in New Orleans’ St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, Vault 24.
Reference: see J.M. Kinabrew, “Stanislaus Fournier, New Orleans Clock and Watch Maker”, National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Bulletin, April 1997, pp. 189-192.
Information courtesy of Neal Auction Company