Background
Bourret was born in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France at Saint-André, near Lodève, to innkeeper Jean-André Bourret and Marguerite née Astic.
Bourret was born in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France at Saint-André, near Lodève, to innkeeper Jean-André Bourret and Marguerite née Astic.
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 customers ranged from aristocrats such as Baron Coste d"Espagnac to the Revolutionary advocate Merlin de Thionville. In 1800, in the Directoire era, he sent 7400 francs worth of merchandise to Monsieur de Mirepoix at Saint St. Petersburg, possibly including a clock now in the Hermitage Museum.
Bourret"s interests were not limited to clocks.
He served as a juror of the Revolutionary Tribunal in 1794, and in 1802 began to operate a ballroom in the Tivoli de la Folie Boutin gardens. However, shortly after his arrival, he died at Rivière-Saléest
