Antoine Patek

Antoni Norbert Patek (; 14 June 1812 – 1 March 1877) was a Polish pioneer in watchmaking and the creator of Swiss watchmaker company Patek Philippe & Co., as well as a Polish independence fighter and political activist. Early life Antoni Norbert Patek de Prawdzic was born in 1812 in Piaski Szlacheckie near Lublin in the Duchy of Warsaw to Anna née Piasecka and Joachim Patek of Prawdzic coat of arms. At the age of 10, Patek moved with his parents to Warsaw where his father died on 7 April 1828. On 1 March 1828, 16-year-old Patek joined the Polish 1st Mounted Rifles Regiment. He fought in the Polish November Uprising against Russian rule during which he was wounded twice. On 27 February 1831, for his heroic attitude Patek was promoted the second lieutenant of the "1 August" brigade, and on 3 October 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.