William Edward Rootes, 1st Baron RootesGBE (17 August 1894 – 12 December 1964) was a British motor manufacturer. He opened his first car sales agency in 1913, leading to the global Rootes Group. During the Second World War he supervised the volume manufacture of aircraft and engines, as well as the supply of military motor vehicles and armoured fighting vehicles.[1] He was knighted in 1942 for these services and for organising the reconstruction of bomb-damaged Coventry after its saturation bombing by the Luftwaffe on 14–15 November 1940. In the 1950s, he became a leader of Britain's export drive,[1] and chaired a committee to found the University of Warwick with a vision of academic links with industry.[2]
William (Billy) Rootes was born in Goudhurst, Kent. His father, William, owned a general engineering business in Goudhurst, which included bicycles. William (Snr) attended a motor show organised by Sir David Salomons in Tunbridge Wells in 1895. Billy and his brother Reginald (Reggie) shared their father's interest in things mechanical. In 1905, whilst their parents were out, Billy took Reggie out for a drive in their father's New Orleans motor car. Billy crashed the car.
Billy attended Cranbrook School, and on leaving school in 1909 was apprenticed to the Singer car company. William had moved the family business to Hawkhurst by this time, and expanded into the motor trade. Billy left Singer in 1913 to start his own car agency. He sold all of his first batch of cars within a few months of leaving Singer. The business was moved to Maidstone before the First World War, and the firm worked on the maintenance and repair of aero engines during the war.[3]
Public honoursedit
William and Reginald were knighted in 1942 and 1946 respectively for their work in setting up shadow factories.[3] William was created a baron in 1959: his eldest son would accordingly become the second Baron Rootes on William's death.
Personaledit
Rootes married his first wife, Nora Press, in 1916. The marriage produced two sons, William Geoffrey Rootes (1917–1992) who between 1967 and 1973 served as chairman of the family business (at that time a subsidiary of Chrysler Corporation and renamed as Chrysler United Kingdom)[4] and Brian Gordon Rootes (1919–1971) who also held a succession of senior positions within the company between 1937 and 1967, interrupted by a period of military service during the Second World War.[5]
William Rootes died in 1964. It had been intended that Rootes would be the first Chancellor of the University of Warwick; he is commemorated there by the Rootes Social Building, Rootes student residences, Rootes Grocery Store and the Lord Rootes Memorial Fund.
Armsedit
Coat of arms of William Rootes, 1st Baron Rootes
Crest
On a wreath Argent and Vert a cubit arm bendwise in armour Or the hand Proper grasping a spear in bend also Proper flying therefrom a forked pennon barry Argent and Azure semée of plates and bezants.
Escutcheon
Ermine within an orle Azure a bugle horn sable garnished Or stringed Gules.
Supporters
On either side a horse argent gorged with a chain pendant therefrom a wheel Or.
^"World wide News and Comment: Lord Rootes to retire". Autocar. 138 (4021): 3. 21 June 1973.
^"Obituary: The Hon. Brian Rootes". The Motor. 3576: 60. 16 January 1971.
^Baggs, A.P.; Freeman, Jane; Stevenson, Janet H (1983). Crowley, D.A. (ed.). "Victoria County History: Wiltshire: Vol 12 pp12-46 - Parishes: Ramsbury". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
william, rootes, baron, rootes, william, geoffrey, rootes, british, politician, william, roots, william, edward, rootes, baron, rootes, august, 1894, december, 1964, british, motor, manufacturer, opened, first, sales, agency, 1913, leading, global, rootes, gro. For his son see William Geoffrey Rootes For the British politician see William Roots William Edward Rootes 1st Baron Rootes GBE 17 August 1894 12 December 1964 was a British motor manufacturer He opened his first car sales agency in 1913 leading to the global Rootes Group During the Second World War he supervised the volume manufacture of aircraft and engines as well as the supply of military motor vehicles and armoured fighting vehicles 1 He was knighted in 1942 for these services and for organising the reconstruction of bomb damaged Coventry after its saturation bombing by the Luftwaffe on 14 15 November 1940 In the 1950s he became a leader of Britain s export drive 1 and chaired a committee to found the University of Warwick with a vision of academic links with industry 2 William RootesRootes in 1937BornWilliam Edward Rootes 1894 08 17 17 August 1894GoudhurstDied12 December 1964 1964 12 12 aged 70 NationalityBritishOccupationBusinessmanKnown forFounder of Rootes Group Contents 1 Early life 2 Public honours 3 Personal 4 Death 5 Arms 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life editWilliam Billy Rootes was born in Goudhurst Kent His father William owned a general engineering business in Goudhurst which included bicycles William Snr attended a motor show organised by Sir David Salomons in Tunbridge Wells in 1895 Billy and his brother Reginald Reggie shared their father s interest in things mechanical In 1905 whilst their parents were out Billy took Reggie out for a drive in their father s New Orleans motor car Billy crashed the car Billy attended Cranbrook School and on leaving school in 1909 was apprenticed to the Singer car company William had moved the family business to Hawkhurst by this time and expanded into the motor trade Billy left Singer in 1913 to start his own car agency He sold all of his first batch of cars within a few months of leaving Singer The business was moved to Maidstone before the First World War and the firm worked on the maintenance and repair of aero engines during the war 3 Public honours editWilliam and Reginald were knighted in 1942 and 1946 respectively for their work in setting up shadow factories 3 William was created a baron in 1959 his eldest son would accordingly become the second Baron Rootes on William s death Personal editRootes married his first wife Nora Press in 1916 The marriage produced two sons William Geoffrey Rootes 1917 1992 who between 1967 and 1973 served as chairman of the family business at that time a subsidiary of Chrysler Corporation and renamed as Chrysler United Kingdom 4 and Brian Gordon Rootes 1919 1971 who also held a succession of senior positions within the company between 1937 and 1967 interrupted by a period of military service during the Second World War 5 In 1958 Rootes bought Ramsbury Manor Wiltshire 6 Death editWilliam Rootes died in 1964 It had been intended that Rootes would be the first Chancellor of the University of Warwick he is commemorated there by the Rootes Social Building Rootes student residences Rootes Grocery Store and the Lord Rootes Memorial Fund Arms editCoat of arms of William Rootes 1st Baron Rootes nbsp Crest On a wreath Argent and Vert a cubit arm bendwise in armour Or the hand Proper grasping a spear in bend also Proper flying therefrom a forked pennon barry Argent and Azure semee of plates and bezants Escutcheon Ermine within an orle Azure a bugle horn sable garnished Or stringed Gules Supporters On either side a horse argent gorged with a chain pendant therefrom a wheel Or Motto Prorsum in Futurum Forward into The Future 7 Badge A horse s head erased Argent gorged with a riband Gules pendant therefrom by a riband Azure a bugle horn Sable garnished Or See also editRootes GroupReferences edit a b Lord Rootes Last of Car Triumvirate Obituary in The Glasgow Herald 14 December 1964 History of The University at University of Warwick official website a b Kent and Sussex Courier 25 April 2008 p 28 World wide News and Comment Lord Rootes to retire Autocar 138 4021 3 21 June 1973 Obituary The Hon Brian Rootes The Motor 3576 60 16 January 1971 Baggs A P Freeman Jane Stevenson Janet H 1983 Crowley D A ed Victoria County History Wiltshire Vol 12 pp12 46 Parishes Ramsbury British History Online University of London Retrieved 23 April 2017 Burke s Peerage 2003 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to William Rootes 1st Baron Rootes Rootes Archive CentrePeerage of the United KingdomNew creation Baron Rootes1959 1964 Succeeded byWilliam Geoffrey Rootes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Rootes 1st Baron Rootes amp oldid 1150031824, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
