Leonard Lord
Encyclopedia
Leonard Percy Lord, 1st Baron Lambury KBE
(15 November 1896 – 13 September 1967) was a captain of the British
motor industry.
, and Emma, daughter of George Swain, and was educated at Bablake School
, Coventry
.
Between 1914 and 1918 Lord worked in a munitions factory in Coventry, then after the First World War in a manufacturing plant for Daimler
engines. In 1923 he moved to the Morris Motor Company
, where he was involved in rationalising all stages of the production process. In 1927 Morris bought the Wolseley Motor Company
, and Lord was transferred there in order to modernise their production equipment. In 1932 Lord was promoted to General Manager at Morris, working from the Cowley
factory. In 1938 after many years of conflict with William Morris
, Lord left to join Morris's chief competitor, the Austin Motor Company
.
At that time, Herbert Austin
was looking for somebody to direct his company, his only son having been killed during the war. Ultimately, Lord was selected to manage the company. With the advent of World War II
, Austin converted from civil to military production, and in particular the construction of ambulance
s and government vehicles. After the war, Lord became Chairman of Austin in 1946, and moved the company to a resumption of civil motor-vehicle production. In 1954 he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(KBE). Through further mergers and acquisitions, Lord ultimately became president of the British Motor Corporation
. In 1962 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Lambury, of Northfield in the County of Warwick.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(15 November 1896 – 13 September 1967) was a captain of the British
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...
motor industry.
Background and education
Lord was the son of William Lord, of CoventryCoventry
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...
, and Emma, daughter of George Swain, and was educated at Bablake School
Bablake School
Bablake School is a co-educational Independent school located in Coventry, England and founded in 1344 by Queen Isabella, making it one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom...
, 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...
.
Automotive career
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...
engines. In 1923 he moved to the Morris Motor Company
Morris Motor Company
The Morris Motor Company was a British car manufacturing company. After the incorporation of the company into larger corporations, the Morris name remained in use as a marque until 1984 when British Leyland's Austin Rover Group decided to concentrate on the more popular Austin marque...
, where he was involved in rationalising all stages of the production process. In 1927 Morris bought the Wolseley Motor Company
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:...
, and Lord was transferred there in order to modernise their production equipment. In 1932 Lord was promoted to General Manager at Morris, working from the Cowley
Cowley, Oxford
Cowley in Oxford, England, is a residential and industrial area that forms a small conurbation within greater Oxford. Cowley's neighbours are central Oxford to the northwest, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys to the south, New Headington to the north and the villages of Horspath and Garsington across...
factory. In 1938 after many years of conflict with William Morris
William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield
William Richard Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield GBE, CH , known as Sir William Morris, Bt, between 1929 and 1934 and as The Lord Nuffield between 1934 and 1938, was a British motor manufacturer and philanthropist...
, Lord left to join Morris's chief competitor, the Austin Motor Company
Austin Motor Company
The Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles. The company was founded in 1905 and merged in 1952 into the British Motor Corporation Ltd. The marque Austin was used until 1987...
.
At that time, Herbert Austin
Herbert Austin
Herbert 'Pa' Austin, 1st Baron Austin KBE was an English automobile designer and builder who founded the Austin Motor Company.-Background and early life:...
was looking for somebody to direct his company, his only son having been killed during the war. Ultimately, Lord was selected to manage the company. With the advent of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Austin converted from civil to military production, and in particular the construction of 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 government vehicles. After the war, Lord became Chairman of Austin in 1946, and moved the company to a resumption of civil motor-vehicle production. In 1954 he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(KBE). Through further mergers and acquisitions, Lord ultimately became president of the British Motor Corporation
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
. In 1962 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Lambury, of Northfield in the County of Warwick.
