History of the Rolls-Royce

Charles Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce came from the opposite sides of the tracks, and therefore and unlikely partner. However, the rest is history, the duo hit it off to produce the powerful Rolls-Royce automotive giant.

Frederick Henry Royce

Frederick Henry Royce was nine years old when his father died in 1872. He became the breadwinner for his family and took odd jobs in London, from bird-scaring to newspaper-selling. At the age of 14, he was hired as an apprentice toolmaker at the railway works.


In 1884, Royce moved to Manchester and opened an electrical engineering business. That was also the time of Britain's fledgling automobile industry. Two years later, he took part in a demonstration to raise the speed limit in Britain from 4 miles per hour, leading to a new limit of 12 miles per hour.

At that time, the French were considered world leaders, so Royce purchased a two-cylinder, ten-horsepower Decauville in 1903. The car was a disappointment to Royce, who believed he could build a much better one.

He drove the first Royce automobile out of his factory in less than 12 months. After a test drive the perfectionist was impressed with his handiwork as it drove quietly and smoothly than any other car on the road. Within two weeks the car was in the garage of Royce company shareholder Henry Edmunds.

Charles Rolls

Charles Rolls was born into a wealthy aristocratic family in 1877. Educated at Britain's finest schools, he earned an engineering degree from Cambridge, but his passion was speed. A champion cyclist for his college, he soon discovered automobiles and the thrill of car racing. His desire was his own luxury British marque.

Between races, Rolls operated a car showroom in London which specialised in French vehicles. One momentous evening at the Automotive Club, fellow member Henry Edmunds provided Rolls the car built by Royce which was his dream car.

Rolls-Royce Partnership

Edmunds believed his two friends would make perfect partners. Rolls, the renowned racing driver, could serve as the face of the business while Royce, the meticulous engineer, would be the production mastermind. Rolls and Royce hit it off immediately and almost instantly agreed a deal regarding the manufacture and sale of Rolls-Royce cards. The iconic marque bears the names of the founding partners, while Henry Edmunds became known as the godfather of the Rolls-Royce.

At London's Olympia Motor Show in 1905, Rolls-Royce showed a six-cylinder car which became known as 'the Grey Ghost' due to its silent and smooth driving. The following year, the Silver ghost was manufactured, which remained in production for the next 19 years.

1910, Charles Rolls became the first man to fly non-stop both ways across the English Channel, but killed when his biplane broke in midair, making him Britain's first aviation fatality. 1911, the first Spirit of Ecstasy mascot adorned the Rolls-Royce bonnet.

By 2005, Rolls-Royce supplies engines to airlines, navies, armed forces and thousands of private aircraft and helicopter operators.



Images Credits: 

• 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V James Young Sedanca de Ville at the 2011 Desert Classic, La Quinta, CA, by Rex Gray, Wiki Commons, Accessed 15 April 2013.