John Black (Motor industry)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Paul Black held several senior positions in the British motor industry
including chairman of Standard-Triumph
.
He was born in Kingston upon Thames
on 10 February 1895 the son of a clerk, John George Black and his wife Ellen (Smith) and studied law at the University of London
. During World War I he served first in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve before transferring to the Royal Tank Regiment
where he gained the rank of Captain.
After the war he joined Hillman
as a sales manager and in 1921 married one of the owner's daughters, (Margaret Verena b. 1887). Shortly afterwards he became joint managing director alongside his brother-in-law Spencer Wilks who had also married one of the Hillman girls (Kathleen Edith b. 1891). In 1928 he joined the boards of Humber
and Commer
.
In 1929, after Hillman, Humber and Commer had become part of the Rootes Group he resigned his posts and took up a new position at the Standard Motor Company and in 1933 he became managing director. With the possibility of war again looming he enthusiastically backed the government scheme for Shadow Factories and gained contracts to build and operate two.
During World War II he became chairman of the Aero Engine Committee, a role for which he gained a knighthood in 1943. In the later years of the war he organised the take over of Triumph
and in 1953 he became chairman of Standard-Triumph with Alick S. Dick taking over control of day to day operations. He was injured in late 1953 in an accident when being given a demonstration of the Swallow Doretti
: this affected his judgment and he was forced to resign in January 1954, officially because of his health. Shortly after Black died in 1965, his successor at the helm of Standard-Triumph recalled Black with obvious affection as an "extrovert and exciting, if somewhat controversial personality". Recalling cars introduced under Black such as the Triumph TR2
, Dick candidly stated that "the emphasis was on the chassis [and on the car's performance] rather than the body. [Also] typical [of Black] was the fact that all his cars had very little leg room and lots of head room because he was a six footer with short legs".
In December 1954 Black accepted an appointment as deputy chairman of Enfield Cables Ltd
. In his retirement he took up farming. He died suddenly at Cheadle Hospital, Cheadle, Cheshire on 24 December 1965 at the age of 70.
Black married Daisy Hillman, daughter of William Hillman
, founder of the Hillman Motor Car Company
, in 1921; the marriage was dissolved in 1939. He married again in 1943 to Alicia Joan Pears Linton, daughter of the Bishop of Persia later rector of Handsworth, with whom he had three sons. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography inaccurately identifies both father and daughter.
British motor industry
The automotive industry in the United Kingdom is now best known for premium and sports car marques including Aston Martin, Bentley, Daimler, Jaguar, Lagonda, Land Rover, Lotus, McLaren, MG, Mini, Morgan and Rolls-Royce. Volume car manufacturers with a major presence in the UK include Ford, Honda,...
including chairman of Standard-Triumph
Standard Motor Company
The Standard Motor Company was founded in Coventry, England in 1903 by Reginald Walter Maudslay . The Standard name was last used in Britain in 1963, and in India in 1987.-1903–1914:...
.
He was born in Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
on 10 February 1895 the son of a clerk, John George Black and his wife Ellen (Smith) and studied law at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. During World War I he served first in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve before transferring to the Royal Tank Regiment
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
where he gained the rank of Captain.
After the war he joined Hillman
Hillman
Hillman is a British automobile marque created by the Hillman Motor Car Company, founded in 1907. The company was based in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry, England. Before 1907 the company had built bicycles...
as a sales manager and in 1921 married one of the owner's daughters, (Margaret Verena b. 1887). Shortly afterwards he became joint managing director alongside his brother-in-law Spencer Wilks who had also married one of the Hillman girls (Kathleen Edith b. 1891). In 1928 he joined the boards of Humber
Humber (car)
Humber is a dormant British automobile marque which could date its beginnings to Thomas Humber's bicycle company founded in 1868. Following their involvement in Humber through Hillman in 1928 the Rootes brothers acquired a controlling interest and joined the Humber board in 1932 making Humber part...
and Commer
Commer
Commer became known in later years as a maker of vans for the British Post Office—particularly the Commer FC which was introduced in 1960 with many body styles, including a 1500 cc van. After engine and interior upgrades it was renamed the PB in 1967 and the SpaceVan in 1974...
.
In 1929, after Hillman, Humber and Commer had become part of the Rootes Group he resigned his posts and took up a new position at the Standard Motor Company and in 1933 he became managing director. With the possibility of war again looming he enthusiastically backed the government scheme for Shadow Factories and gained contracts to build and operate two.
During World War II he became chairman of the Aero Engine Committee, a role for which he gained a knighthood in 1943. In the later years of the war he organised the take over of Triumph
Triumph Motor Company
The Triumph Motor Company was a British car and motor manufacturing company. The Triumph marque is owned currently by BMW. The marque had its origins in 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann of Nuremberg initiated S. Bettmann & Co and started importing bicycles from Europe and selling them with his own...
and in 1953 he became chairman of Standard-Triumph with Alick S. Dick taking over control of day to day operations. He was injured in late 1953 in an accident when being given a demonstration of the Swallow Doretti
Swallow Doretti
The Swallow Doretti was a two-seater sports car based on the Triumph TR2, made between 1954 and 1955.The marque came from Swallow Coachbuilding Co. Ltd. which was sold in 1945 by Jaguar to the Helliwell Group which was taken over in 1946 by the British conglomerate, the Tube Investments Group...
: this affected his judgment and he was forced to resign in January 1954, officially because of his health. Shortly after Black died in 1965, his successor at the helm of Standard-Triumph recalled Black with obvious affection as an "extrovert and exciting, if somewhat controversial personality". Recalling cars introduced under Black such as the Triumph TR2
Triumph TR2
The Triumph TR2 is a sports car which was produced by the Standard Motor Company in the United Kingdom between 1953 and 1955, during which time 8,636 cars were produced....
, Dick candidly stated that "the emphasis was on the chassis [and on the car's performance] rather than the body. [Also] typical [of Black] was the fact that all his cars had very little leg room and lots of head room because he was a six footer with short legs".
In December 1954 Black accepted an appointment as deputy chairman of Enfield Cables Ltd
Enfield Cables Ltd
Enfield Cables Ltd was a British manufacturer of electric cables.The company was founded in 1913 by James Grimston as the Enfield Electric Cable Manufacturing Co Ltd, located on the River Lea in Enfield Lock. In 1959, as Enfield Cables Ltd, it was acquired by Enfield Rolling Mills Ltd and a new...
. In his retirement he took up farming. He died suddenly at Cheadle Hospital, Cheadle, Cheshire on 24 December 1965 at the age of 70.
Black married Daisy Hillman, daughter of William Hillman
William Hillman
William Hillman was a British bicycle and automobile manufacturer. In partnership with Louis Coatalen he founded the Hillman-Coatalen Company in 1907, later the Hillman Motor Company after Coatalen's defection to Sunbeam in 1909.-Early life:Hillman was born on 13 November 1848 in Stratford, Essex,...
, founder of the Hillman Motor Car Company
Hillman
Hillman is a British automobile marque created by the Hillman Motor Car Company, founded in 1907. The company was based in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry, England. Before 1907 the company had built bicycles...
, in 1921; the marriage was dissolved in 1939. He married again in 1943 to Alicia Joan Pears Linton, daughter of the Bishop of Persia later rector of Handsworth, with whom he had three sons. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography inaccurately identifies both father and daughter.