John Davenport Siddeley, 1st Baron Kenilworth
Encyclopedia
John Davenport Siddeley, 1st Baron Kenilworth (5 August 1866 - 3 November 1956), was a captain of the automobile
industry in the United Kingdom
.
near Stockport
in Cheshire
. In 1892, the young bicycle
racer and designer was hired by the Humber Cycle Company
. The next year he went to Dunlop
and cycled from Land's End to John o' Groats
to publicise the new pneumatic tyre. He married Sarah Mabel Goodier in 1893 and lived in Ireland
for a short time. In August, 1894, the family was living in Meriden
, Coventry
where a son, Cyril, was born.
Siddeley founded the Siddeley Autocar Company in 1902, after beginning to import Peugeot
s from France
. The new firm had Peugeot-based demonstration cars at the Crystal Palace
in 1903. By 1905, the company had a dozen models for sale, and it was purchased by Wolseley
of Coventry
. Siddeley became the manager of the newly-independent company, renaming it Wolseley-Siddeley.
John Siddeley's first wife died in 1907 and he married again to Sarah Hall and had two more sons Ernest and Norman and two daughters Joan and Nancy ('disputed as the 1911 census gives SIDDELEY, Sara Mabel Wife Married 18 years). He resigned from Wolseley in 1909 to manage the Deasy Motor Company, also of Coventry.
By 1912, Deasy had become Siddeley-Deasy
: it grew rapidly producing ambulance
s and aircraft
engines, using Rover
chassis and Daimler
and Aster
engines. During World War I
, Siddeley-Deasy employed around 5,000 workers. In 1918 John Siddeley and his family moved to Crackley Hall, Kenilworth
.
In 1919, Siddeley-Deasy was merged with Armstrong-Whitworth to become Armstrong Siddeley
(who continued producing automobiles until 1960). By 1927 he had gained control of the whole business. Siddeley remained in charge until 1935 when, at the age of 70, he arranged a merger with Hawker Aircraft
to form Hawker Siddeley.
He was knighted in 1932 in which year he served as High Sheriff of Warwickshire
. In 1937 he purchased Kenilworth Castle
and the same year he was raised to the peerage as Baron Kenilworth, of Kenilworth in the County of Warwick. After his retirement he moved to Jersey
where he died. He was succeeded in the barony by his son Cyril.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
industry in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Career
Siddeley was born in Cheadle HulmeCheadle Hulme
Cheadle Hulme is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southwest of Stockport and southeast of the city of Manchester. It lies in the Ladybrook Valley on the Cheshire Plain, and the drift consists mostly of boulder clay, sands and gravels...
near Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. In 1892, the young bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
racer and designer was hired by the Humber Cycle Company
Humber (bicycle)
Humber is an English brand of bicycle.One model is the Humber Sport 3-speed pictured on this page. It includes an unusual fork design, called "Duplex", in which each blade consist of two separate tubes, and a stylish chainring that includes the shape of five persons.-History:Made by Humber car...
. The next year he went to Dunlop
Dunlop Rubber
Dunlop Rubber was a company based in the United Kingdom which manufactured tyres and other rubber products for most of the 20th century. It was acquired by BTR plc in 1985. Since then, ownership of the Dunlop trade-names has been fragmented.-Early history:...
and cycled from Land's End to John o' Groats
Land's End to John o' Groats
Land's End to John o' Groats is the traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain between two extremities; in the southwest and northeast. The traditional distance by road is and takes most cyclists ten to fourteen days; the record for running the route is nine days. Off-road...
to publicise the new pneumatic tyre. He married Sarah Mabel Goodier in 1893 and lived in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
for a short time. In August, 1894, the family was living in Meriden
Meriden, West Midlands
-External links:*****...
, Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
where a son, Cyril, was born.
Siddeley founded the Siddeley Autocar Company in 1902, after beginning to import Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
s from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The new firm had Peugeot-based demonstration cars at the Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
in 1903. By 1905, the company had a dozen models for sale, and it was purchased by Wolseley
Wolseley Motor Company
The Wolseley Motor Company was a British automobile manufacturer founded in 1901. After 1935 it was incorporated into larger companies but the Wolseley name remained as an upmarket marque until 1975.-History:...
of Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
. Siddeley became the manager of the newly-independent company, renaming it Wolseley-Siddeley.
John Siddeley's first wife died in 1907 and he married again to Sarah Hall and had two more sons Ernest and Norman and two daughters Joan and Nancy ('disputed as the 1911 census gives SIDDELEY, Sara Mabel Wife Married 18 years). He resigned from Wolseley in 1909 to manage the Deasy Motor Company, also of Coventry.
By 1912, Deasy had become Siddeley-Deasy
Siddeley-Deasy
Siddeley-Deasy was a British automobile, engine and aircraft company based in Coventry in the early 20th century. It was central to the formation, by merger and buy-out, of the later Armstrong Sideleley Motor and Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft companies....
: it grew rapidly producing ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
s and aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
engines, using Rover
Rover (car)
The Rover Company is a former British car manufacturing company founded as Starley & Sutton Co. of Coventry in 1878. After developing the template for the modern bicycle with its Rover Safety Bicycle of 1885, the company moved into the automotive industry...
chassis and Daimler
Daimler Motor Company
The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...
and Aster
Aster (auto parts company)
Aster was a French manufacturer of automobile parts; from 1900 to 1910 the company produced chassis, though it is not known if they built complete cars.The firm whose full name was Ateliers de Construction Mecanique l'Aster from St...
engines. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Siddeley-Deasy employed around 5,000 workers. In 1918 John Siddeley and his family moved to Crackley Hall, Kenilworth
Kenilworth
Kenilworth is a town in central Warwickshire, England. In 2001 the town had a population of 22,582 . It is situated south of Coventry, north of Warwick and northwest of London....
.
In 1919, Siddeley-Deasy was merged with Armstrong-Whitworth to become Armstrong Siddeley
Armstrong Siddeley
Armstrong Siddeley was a British engineering group that operated during the first half of the 20th century. It was formed in 1919 and is best known for the production of luxury motor cars and aircraft engines.-Siddeley Autocars:...
(who continued producing automobiles until 1960). By 1927 he had gained control of the whole business. Siddeley remained in charge until 1935 when, at the age of 70, he arranged a merger with Hawker Aircraft
Hawker Aircraft
Hawker Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer responsible for some of the most famous products in British aviation history.-History:...
to form Hawker Siddeley.
He was knighted in 1932 in which year he served as High Sheriff of Warwickshire
High Sheriff of Warwickshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
. In 1937 he purchased Kenilworth Castle
Kenilworth Castle
Kenilworth Castle is located in the town of the same name in Warwickshire, England. Constructed from Norman through to Tudor times, the castle has been described by architectural historian Anthony Emery as "the finest surviving example of a semi-royal palace of the later middle ages, significant...
and the same year he was raised to the peerage as Baron Kenilworth, of Kenilworth in the County of Warwick. After his retirement he moved to Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
where he died. He was succeeded in the barony by his son Cyril.