William Rootes, 1st Baron Rootes
William "Billy" Edward Rootes, 1st Baron Rootes (born August 17, 1894 in Hawkhurst , Kent , † December 12, 1964 ) was a British automobile manufacturer .
Life
After completing school at the Cranbrook School, he initially worked as a car salesman before, in 1917, together with his brother Reginald "Reggie" Rootes, he started buying up existing car factories. With the purchase of the car brands Humber in 1931, Hillman as well as Sunbeam and Clement Talbot in 1935, the company grew under the name Rootes Group to become the largest car production and sales company in Great Britain . The acquisition of the automobile manufacturer Singer in 1955 finally marked the high point of the company mergers. Billy Rootes remained chairman of the Rootes Group until his death in 1964.
In 1959 he was raised to hereditary nobility as Baron Rootes , of Ramsbury in the County of Wiltshire, and was thus a member of the House of Lords until his death . The economic difficulties of the Rootes Group, which led to the takeover of the company by the Chrysler Corporation in 1967 , however, Baron Rootes no longer lived.
Quote
He described the collaboration with his brother Reginald Rootes as follows:
- "I'm the engine, while my brother was the steering and the brakes."
- ("I am the engine, while my brother was the controls and the brakes.")
literature
- Chambers Biographical Dictionary. 2002, ISBN 0-550-10051-2 , p. 1305
Web links
- William Rootes at Hansard (English)
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| New title created |
Baron Rootes 1959-1964 |
Geoffrey Rootes |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Rootes, William, 1st Baron Rootes |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Rootes, Billy; Rootes, William Edward, 1st Baron Rootes |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British car maker |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 17th August 1894 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Hawkhurst , Kent |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 12, 1964 |