Battle of Waterloo and Breguet Watches

The Battle of Waterloo was fought thirteen kilometers south of Brussels on June 18, 1815.  The battle started at midday and was over in about 6 hours. Napoleon Bonaparte commanded the French and the Duke of Wellington commanded the allied army from Britain and Prussia. 

At the battle of Waterloo, the only thing that united Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington was that they each relied on their Breguet watch.

Wellington fought his last battle at Waterloo and became a hero, throughout Europe. After winning the battle, Wellington bought a Breguet pocket watch that was originally ordered by King Louis XVI of France.

The Battle of Waterloo ended Napoleon's hundred days reign and he was exiled to the island of St. Helena where he died in 1821.

During the battle the rival generals were
encountering serious difficulties with time.
Napoleon on one side and Wellington on
the other kept flipping open the covers of
their pocket watches to have a glance at
the dial.

Napoleon apparently grew tired of this
awkward process with his hunter pocket
watch.  He wanted to be able to see the
time right away, without sacrificing the
benefits of the cover.   He had a small
viewing hole cut in the front cover that
gave him an unobstructed view of the
face and hands. 

The half hunter case was born.
 

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