This was one of the most well-known families of optical instruments makers active in France in the city of Paris in XVIII and XIX Century. They had a good name of microscope makers of excellent quality. The firm was founded in the XVIII Century by Louis Vincent Chevalier and was led by Jacques Vincent until his death, when was replaced by his son Charles; with whom there was the best period for the family business.

Genealogy
From 1765 to 1804 Louis-Vincent Chevalier (1734 ? – 1804 ?), Paris, Quai de l'Horloge du Palais;
from 1804 to 1830 Jacques-Vincent Chevalier (1770 – 1841) , Paris, 69 Quai de l'Horloge du Palais;
from 1830 to 1859 Charles Chevalier (1804 – 1859) and Arthur Chevalier, Paris, 163 Palais Royal,
1859 Arthur Chevalier (1830 – 1874), Paris , 158 Palais Royal.

Louis-Vincent Chevalier
He founded the firm about in 1765, at 31 Quai de l'Horloge, Paris; he build and sold mirrors, lenses and telescopes. Three of his sons were opticians: Louis and Nicolas-Marie had a short career, and Vincent Jacques Louis .

Vincent Jacques Louis Chevalier (1771 - 1841)
He worked with his father, then went to serve in the army. When he returned, in 1803-4, founded his firm . He made optics for telegraph operator telescopes.

Charles Chevalier (1804-1859)
Engineer and famous optician in Paris, Charles Chevalier gave an important contribution to microscopy. He began his career in the father's workshop, then he founded his own firm in 1831; at his father death in 1841 he came into inheritance of the workshop. In 1823, together with his father Vincent and following Selligue directions, he realized achromatic objectives for microscopes using four achromatic plano-convex lenses superimposed one upon another.