Terry, Eli (1772-1852)

US inventor and clock manufacturer. Terry patented ten improvements in clockworks and introduced several popular innovations in clock design. After an apprenticeship (1786-92), he made his first clocks by hand. He turned to using water power to drive his tools in 1800 when he established the USA's first clock factory in Plymouth, Connecticut. In 1807 he formed a partnership with Seth Thomas and their factory eventually produced 10,000-12,000 clocks per year. Terry was born in East Windsor, Connecticut.