Henry Spurrier
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Spurrier was a British
engineer and industrialist, and the third generation of the Spurrier family to head Leyland Motors.
Spurrier (Henry III) was educated at Repton School
, and started working life as an apprentice in his grandfather's firm. During World War I
he was a pilot lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps
, and served in Mesopotamia and India.
Immediately after the war Spurrier involved himself in car development, working with the chief engineer at Leyland Motors, J.G. Parry-Thomas
and with his assistant Reid Railton. They produced a luxury touring car the Leyland Eight
, with which they intended to compete with Rolls-Royce. It was exhibited at the 1920 London motor show, only eight however, were ever built.
After his father's death, Spurrier progressed to become Managing Director of Leyland Motors in 1949.
Spurrier was knighted in 1955. Under his leadership Leyland Motors acquired Standard Triumph in 1961 and the newly enlarged company became the Leyland Motor Corporation (LMC), and a car producer once again.
Spurrier died in 1964 and Donald Stokes took over as head of LMC.
United Kingdom
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engineer and industrialist, and the third generation of the Spurrier family to head Leyland Motors.
Biography
Spurrier's grandfather, also Henry, was one of the two Spurrier brothers who founded a company in 1896 to produce steam powered, and later petrol powered, commercial vehicles. The company was renamed Leyland Motors in 1907. In 1919 Spurrier's father, another Henry, took charge of the company.Spurrier (Henry III) was educated at Repton School
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
, and started working life as an apprentice in his grandfather's firm. 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...
he was a pilot lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, and served in Mesopotamia and India.
Immediately after the war Spurrier involved himself in car development, working with the chief engineer at Leyland Motors, J.G. Parry-Thomas
J.G. Parry-Thomas
John Godfrey Parry-Thomas was a Welsh engineer and motor-racing driver who at one time held the Land Speed Record. He was the first driver to be killed in pursuit of the land speed record....
and with his assistant Reid Railton. They produced a luxury touring car the Leyland Eight
Leyland Eight
The Leyland Eight was a luxury car produced by Leyland Motors from 1920 to 1923. The car was designed by the chief engineer of Leyland Motors, J.G. Parry-Thomas and his assistant Reid Railton, and was intended to be the finest car available...
, with which they intended to compete with Rolls-Royce. It was exhibited at the 1920 London motor show, only eight however, were ever built.
After his father's death, Spurrier progressed to become Managing Director of Leyland Motors in 1949.
Spurrier was knighted in 1955. Under his leadership Leyland Motors acquired Standard Triumph in 1961 and the newly enlarged company became the Leyland Motor Corporation (LMC), and a car producer once again.
Spurrier died in 1964 and Donald Stokes took over as head of LMC.