He was born in Alwalton, Huntingdonshire, near Peterborough.
His first car was a Decauville. It was faulty, so he decided to manufacture his own cars, known as Royce - only three were made (none preserved). Charles Rolls saw one of them and they joined forces to make the Rolls Royce.
On his death, as a sign of mourning, the company permanently changed the colour of the "RR" lettering on the Rolls-Royce badge from red to black.
External links