Coachman vs. Chaffeur

Societygirl1892 · Post by **Societygirl1892** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:08 am

Can anyone tell me the difference between a coachman and a chauffeur? I had always assumed they were the same, but since Lizzie employed both a Coachman and a Chauffeur, there must have been a difference in the duties they performed.
Pammie

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:09 pm

A coachman was someone who drove a coach or carriage. A chauffeur was someone who drove a car. I think that Lizzie would have had only one at a time though the way I have seen that written it sounds like she had both at one time. I imagine most people of Lizzie's era knew how to handle a horse to drive a carriage. But, how many would know how to drive that new fangled and expensive car? It makes me wonder if Lizzie ever learned how to drive herself, is there a Lizzie drivers license sitting out there somewhere?

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:12 pm

That's a good question. I ran across the answer recently. Her 'coachman', once she was using an automobile instead of a carriage, was a handyman - he did a little bit of everything.