Harry John Lawson
Encyclopedia
Henry John Lawson, also known as Harry Lawson, (1852–1925) was a British bicycle designer, motor industry pioneer, and fraudster. As part of his attempt to create and control a British motor industry Lawson formed and floated The Daimler Motor Company Limited
in London in 1896. It later began manufacture in Coventry
. Lawson organised the 1896 Emancipation Day drive now commemorated annually by the London to Brighton car run on the same course.
as an inventor of the modern bicycle.
, and sought to enrich himself by garnering important patent
s and shell companies
.
In 1895, as one of many attempts to promote his schemes and lobby Parliament for the elimination of the Red Flag Act, Lawson and Frederick Simms founded the Motor Car Club of Britain.
Lawson and the Motor Car Club organised the first London to Brighton run, the "Emancipation Run", which was held on 14th November 1896 to celebrate the relaxation of the Red Flag Act, which eased the way for the start of the development of the British motor industry
.
Lawson attempted to monopolise the British automobile industry through the acquisition of foreign patents. He acquired exclusive British rights to manufacture the De Dion-Bouton
and Bollée
vehicles; bought the Humber Bicycle Company
; and British patent rights for US bicycle designs. He founded a succession of promotional companies including: the British Motor Syndicate with Adolphe Clément
and Lord Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 20th Earl of Shrewsbury
. (BMS was the first of many of Lawson's schemes to collapse in 1897, but it did provide the genesis for the Clément and Talbot
marques.) Lawson also founded the British Motor Company, British Motor Traction Company, Great Horseless Carriage Company, Motor Manufacturing Company, and of E. J. Pennington
, forming the Anglo-American Rapid Vehicle Company. With his one great success, The Daimler Motor Company Limited
, he bought in the rights of Gottlieb Daimler
though this company too was to be reorganised in 1904. After a succession of business failures the British Motor Syndicate was reorganized and renamed the British Motor Traction Company in 1901, led by Selwyn F. Edge
.
The World on Wheels, thrilling true tales of the Cycle & Automobile Industry, vol 2. Self-published, 1926)
Lawson was completely out of the automobile industry by 1908 and disappeared from the public gaze for some years.
He reappeared as a director of the Blériot Manufacturing Aircraft Company Ltd., the English branch of Louis Blériot
's aircraft company. Lawson secretly acquired control of the company just before a public subscription to help expand its war effort. But the company soon found itself in breach of its contract with Blériot. When this came to light, the company was wound up and its director found guilty of fraud and dishonesty.
He retired from the public gaze and died at his home in Harrow, London
in 1925.
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...
in London in 1896. It later began manufacture in 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...
. Lawson organised the 1896 Emancipation Day drive now commemorated annually by the London to Brighton car run on the same course.
Early years
The son of a brass turner, Lawson designed several types of bicycle in the 1870s. His efforts were described as the "first authentic design of safety bicycle employing chain-drive to the rear wheel which was actually made", and has been ranked alongside John Kemp StarleyJohn Kemp Starley
John Kemp Starley was an English inventor and industrialist who is widely considered the inventor of the modern bicycle, and also originator of the name Rover....
as an inventor of the modern bicycle.
Motor promotor
Lawson saw great opportunities in the creation of a motor car industry in BritainBritish 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,...
, and sought to enrich himself by garnering important patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s and shell companies
Shell (corporation)
A shell corporation is a company which serves as a vehicle for business transactions without itself having any significant assets or operations. Shell corporations are not in themselves illegal and have legitimate business purposes. However, they are a main component of the underground economy,...
.
In 1895, as one of many attempts to promote his schemes and lobby Parliament for the elimination of the Red Flag Act, Lawson and Frederick Simms founded the Motor Car Club of Britain.
Lawson and the Motor Car Club organised the first London to Brighton run, the "Emancipation Run", which was held on 14th November 1896 to celebrate the relaxation of the Red Flag Act, which eased the way for the start of the development of the British motor industry
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,...
.
Lawson attempted to monopolise the British automobile industry through the acquisition of foreign patents. He acquired exclusive British rights to manufacture the De Dion-Bouton
De Dion-Bouton
De Dion-Bouton was a French automobile manufacturer and railcar manufacturer operating from 1883 to 1932. The company was founded by the Marquis Jules-Albert de Dion, Georges Bouton and his brother-in-law Charles Trépardoux....
and Bollée
Léon Bollée Automobiles
Léon Bollée Automobiles was a French company founded by Léon Bollée in Le Mans to build a first vehicle called "Voiturette".The Bollée family, all car makers, created three brands:* steam vehicles, Amédée Bollée , built between 1873 and 1885....
vehicles; bought the Humber Bicycle Company
Thomas Humber
Thomas Humber was a British cycle manufacturer who founded the Humber bicycle company in 1869 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire. By 1896 the company, under new management, ventured into Humber motor cars and became the first maker of series production cars in England.-Personal life:Thomas Humber was...
; and British patent rights for US bicycle designs. He founded a succession of promotional companies including: the British Motor Syndicate with Adolphe Clément
Adolphe Clément
Gustave Adolphe Clément-Bayard was a French entrepreneur...
and Lord Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 20th Earl of Shrewsbury
Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 20th Earl of Shrewsbury
Major Charles Henry John Chetwynd-Talbot, 20th Earl of Shrewsbury, 20th Earl of Waterford, 5th Earl Talbot , was a British peer.Talbot was the only son and heir of the Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 19th Earl of Shrewsbury...
. (BMS was the first of many of Lawson's schemes to collapse in 1897, but it did provide the genesis for the Clément and Talbot
Talbot
Talbot was an automobile marque that existed from 1903 to 1986, with a hiatus from 1960 to 1978, under a number of different owners, latterly under Peugeot...
marques.) Lawson also founded the British Motor Company, British Motor Traction Company, Great Horseless Carriage Company, Motor Manufacturing Company, and of E. J. Pennington
E. J. Pennington
Edward Joel Pennington was an inventor and promoter of many mechanical devices, including airships, motorcycles, and automobiles...
, forming the Anglo-American Rapid Vehicle Company. With his one great success, The Daimler Motor Company Limited
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...
, he bought in the rights of Gottlieb Daimler
Gottlieb Daimler
Gottlieb Daimler was an engineer, industrial designer and industrialist born in Schorndorf , in what is now Germany. He was a pioneer of internal-combustion engines and automobile development...
though this company too was to be reorganised in 1904. After a succession of business failures the British Motor Syndicate was reorganized and renamed the British Motor Traction Company in 1901, led by Selwyn F. Edge
Selwyn Edge
Selwyn Francis Edge was an Australian businessman, racing driver, and record-breaker. He is principally associated with selling and racing De Dion-Bouton, Gladiator; Clemént-Panhard, Napier and AC cars.-Personal life:...
.
Legal problems
Many of Lawson's patents were not as defining as he had hoped, and from 1901 a series of legal cases saw the value in his holdings eroded. Lawson's patent rights were subsequently eroded through successful lawsuits by the Automobile Mutual Protective Association. In 1904 Lawson was tried in court for fraudulently obtaining money from his shareholders and, after representing himself in court, he was found guilty and sentenced to one year's hard labour. "He was neither a greedy man nor an egoist. On the contrary he was always fair and extremely generous. He paid largely and was most liberal in the golden days of his success. A cheque was always ready to be handed over with a kindly smile to friends who assisted him with his dealings or company-promoting schemes. Lawson was a clever man. Perhaps his greatest misfortune was in not being supported properly in his business by others equally intelligent." (Duncan, Herbert OsbaldestonHerbert Osbaldeston Duncan
Herbert Osbaldeston Duncan was an English racing bicyclist, journalist, and pioneer of the British automobile industry. Duncan became interested in cycling during his time at Taplow College, and in 1878 he joined the Belgrave Bicycle Club determined to make a career in the sport...
The World on Wheels, thrilling true tales of the Cycle & Automobile Industry, vol 2. Self-published, 1926)
Lawson was completely out of the automobile industry by 1908 and disappeared from the public gaze for some years.
He reappeared as a director of the Blériot Manufacturing Aircraft Company Ltd., the English branch of Louis Blériot
Louis Blériot
Louis Charles Joseph Blériot was a French aviator, inventor and engineer. In 1909 he completed the first flight across a large body of water in a heavier-than-air craft, when he crossed the English Channel. For this achievement, he received a prize of £1,000...
's aircraft company. Lawson secretly acquired control of the company just before a public subscription to help expand its war effort. But the company soon found itself in breach of its contract with Blériot. When this came to light, the company was wound up and its director found guilty of fraud and dishonesty.
He retired from the public gaze and died at his home in Harrow, London
Harrow, London
Harrow is an area in the London Borough of Harrow, northwest London, United Kingdom. It is a suburban area and is situated 12.2 miles northwest of Charing Cross...
in 1925.