Antoni Patek

Antoni Norbert Patek (French: Antoine Norbert de Patek) (May 14, 1811 – March 1, 1877) was a Polish pioneer in watchmaking and a creator of Patek Philippe & Co., one of the most famous watchmaker companies.

Early life

Antoni Patek was born in 1811 (according to some sources 1812) in Piaski Luterskie near Lublin, Poland to Anna née Piasecka and Joachim Patek of Prawdzic coat of arms.

At the age of 10, Patek moved with his parents to Warsaw. Patek's father died on April 7, 1828 in Warsaw.

On March 1, 1828, 16-year-old Patek joined the Polish 1st Mounted Rifles Regiment. He fought in the November Uprising during which he was wounded twice. On February 27, 1831 for his heroic attitude Patek was promoted the second lieutenant of the "1 August" brigade, and on October 3 of the same year decorated with Virtuti Militari Golden Cross. After the downfall of the uprising – like many other officers and soldiers of Polish Army – he had to emigrate.

In 1832 he was engaged by general Józef Bem in organising an evacuation route for Polish insurgents through Prussia to France. He was charged with a command over a staging point in Bamberg near Munich (one of five staging points on the insurgents' evacuation route). After terminating the evacuation, Patek settled in France, firstly in Cahors, then in Amiens where he worked as a type-setter.