A good Victorian mahogany-cased marine chronometer by Dent, number 1901. Having a 4.5" silvered...

A good Victorian mahogany-cased marine chronometer by Dent, number 1901. Having a 4.5" silvered Roman dial engraved "DENT LONDON Chronometer Maker to the Queen No. 1901", with subsidiary 8-day State of Wind dial and running seconds, in a gimballed bowl, the large circular movement with spotted plates and three ringed gun-barrel pillars, the chain-driven fusee set within a U-shaped backplate, with maintaining power to the chain fusee movement, the diamond endstone to a blued 9.5-turn helical hairspring, the brass cowl stamped 1901, the three-piece mahogany box with brass carrying handles and an enamel roundel inscribed DENT 1901, the glazed internal cover with thermometer to the underside, with paper label "Cleaned 1923 J. Bruce & Sons Liverpool", 7.25" square x 7.5" high, (18.5cm x 19cm), in baized-lined mahogany outer box, with 1870 and 1923 paperwork, the former from E. J. Dent and inscribed in pencil verso "Originally the property of Lord Clermont Ravensdale Co Louth", the latter from John Bruce & Sons as above invoice to the (then) keeper, JGW Butler, with corresponding label to outer box "JGW Butler c/o W & S 3 Artuln".

The Lord Claermont referred to may be Thomas Fortescue, formerly Member of Parliament for Louth, who in 1852 was made Baron Clermont, of Dromisken in the County of Louth. Thomas Fortescue was the son of Chichester Fortescue, member of the Irish House of Commons for Hillsborough, and grandson of Thomas Fortescue, member of the Irish Parliament for Trim. In 1866 Lord Clermont was also made Baron Clermont, of Clermont Park in the County of Louth. It may also refer to Thomas's brother, Sir Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, later 1st Baron Carlingford, whose eminent political career included Under-Secretary of State to the Colonies under Lord Palmerston, 1857-58, Chief Secretary for Ireland (under both Lord Russell and Gladstone), and President of the Board of Trade. His Uncle, also Chichester Fortescue, was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy.