Noël Bourret (c. 1755 - 30 August 1803) was a celebrated French clockmaker and businessman active in Paris from 1785-1803. A man of fine taste and creative spirit, Noël Bourret pursued a fascinating career. He was born in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France at Saint-André-de-Sangonis, near Lodève, to innkeeper Jean-André Bourret and Marguerite née Astic. In 1785 he married Marie Berthelain, and in that year was first recorded as working in Paris as an apprentice (compagnon) clockmaker and then as a merchant of clocks circa 1789. From 1790-1802 he worked at Palais-Royal, then known as the Palais de l'Égalité and subsequently the Palais du Tribunat, collaborating with well-known bronziers including Pierre-Philippe Thomire. During this time he created at least 1,395 watches, and his cu