Maurice Fernand Cary Wilks(19 August 1904 – 8 September 1963) was an English automotive and aeronautical engineer, and by the time of his death in 1963, was the chairman of theRover Company.He was the founder of theLand Rover marqueand responsible for the inspiration and concept work that led to the development of thefirst Land Rover off-road utility vehicle.
Maurice Wilks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Maurice Fernand Cary Wilks 19 August 1904 Eastoke,Hayling Island,Hampshire, England |
| Died | 8 September 1963(aged 59) Newborough, Anglesey,Wales |
| Nationality | English |
| Known for | Car design engineer |
| Relatives | Spencer Wilks(brother) |
Early life
editWilks was born on 19 August 1904 onHayling Island,Hampshire, England, the youngest of five sons and one daughter of Thomas Wilks (born Balham), a director of Leather Co and his wife Jane Eliza (born St. Sepulchre, London), aSuffragette.One of his brothers wasSpencer Wilkswho became managing director, chairman and president of theRover Car Company.[1][2]He was educated atMalvern College.[2][3]
He married Barbara Martin-Hurst in 1937.[4]
Career
editMaurice Wilks worked from 1922 to 1926 for theHillman Motor Car CompanyinCoventry.[3]In 1926 he went to work forGeneral Motorsin the United States but after two years in the U.S., returned to England and Hillman.[5]
Wilks remained at Hillman as a planning engineer until 1930, when he moved to theRover Companyas chief engineer[6]following his much older brother, Spencer. Spencer Wilks had been brought in from Hillman in September 1929 by Rover'sFrank Searlemade general manager and given a seat on Rover's board the following year.[5][7]Spencer would be appointed managing director of Rover from 1932[5][8][9]
In 1930 Spencer and Maurice Wilks on Spencer's appointment to the board made the important decision to make only high quality cars.[5]
DuringWorld War II,Wilks led Rover's team developingFrank Whittle'sgas turbineaircraft engines. Experiencing difficulties with Whittle's team Rover passed the project to Rolls-Royce in 1943.[3]After the war, Wilks continued working with gas turbine engines, leading to Rover unveiling the first gas turbine powered car in 1949.[5][10]
Shortly after the war, whilst at his farm in Anglesey, Wilks, who used an army surplusWillys Jeepfor farm work, and his brother Spencer who was visiting him, were inspired to develop and produce a utility four-wheel-drive vehicle for farmers, and the nameLand Roverwas coined for it.[10]
By the summer of 1947 Rover had built a prototypeLand Rovervehicle based on a Jeep chassis.[10]In September 1947, the Rover company authorised the production of 50 pre-production models for evaluation purposes.[10]TheLand Roverwas launched to the world at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show.[10]
Maurice Wilks was a leading light in the establishment and development of the proving ground facilities of theMotor Industry Research Association.[5]
Maurice Wilks remained chief engineer until appointed technical director in 1946. He was appointed joint managing director with brother Spencer Wilks in August 1956[11]and succeeded his brother as managing director in November 1960.[12]In January 1962 preferring policy to day-to-day management he was appointed chairman of the Rover Company in succession to his older brother Spencer Wilks. The managing director appointment was given to W F F Martin-Hurst.[13]
Death
edit
Wilks died at his farm nearNewborough, Anglesey,on 8 September 1963. He was 59.[3]
His obituary inThe Timesdescribed him as shunning publicity but added that he was farsighted and regarded as one of the industry's outstanding engineers with a brilliant knowledge of engineering detail. He was survived by his wife and three children.[5]
He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's Church atLlanfairpwllgwyngyllon Angelesy.[citation needed]
The inscription on his gravestone reads:
MAURICE FERNAND CARY WILKS
AUGUST 19TH 1904 - SEPTEMBER 8TH 1963
A MUCH LOVED, GENTLE MODEST MAN
WHOSE SUDDEN DEATH ROBBED THE
ROVER COMPANY OF A CHAIRMAN AND
BRITAIN OF THE BRILLIANT PIONEER
WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORLD'S
FIRST GAS TURBINE DRIVEN CAR
Wilks family
editFrom the early 1930s, until merged with British Leyland, Rover had much of the nature of a family business.
- Maurice Wilks's elder brother,Spencer Bernau Wilks(1891—1971), was general manager from September 1929 then managing director of Rover from 1932 until 1957 when he was appointed chairman of the board of directors. Spencer was hired by Rover managing director,Frank Searle,from his position of joint (withJohn Black) managing director of Hillman following the purchase of Hillman by theRootes brothers.Spencer brought Maurice from Hillman to Rover the following year to be Rover's chief engineer.
- Aged 70 Spencer retired from the chair in favour of his much younger (13 years) brother at the beginning of 1962 remaining on the board in a non-executive capacity. He was made president of Rover in 1967.[9]
- William Martin-Hurst (1905-1988) Rover's well-liked managing director, was a Maurice Wilks relative by marriage.[4]
- Peter Wilks (1920-1972), son of Geoffrey Wilks, took over his uncle Maurice Wilks' technical directorship in 1963[14]and later became engineering director but he retired for health reasons in July 1971 when only 51[15]and died the following year.
- Spencer King(1925-2010) was a nephew of Spencer and Maurice Wilks. He took over as technical director on the retirement of Peter Wilks.
Spencer Wilks andJohn Blackof theStandard Motor Companymarried sisters, daughters ofWilliam Hillmanbicycle and automobile manufacturer.
References
edit- ^The Times- Saturday, 10 June 1967.
- ^abGraces Guide to British Industrial History. Profile of Spencer Wilks
- ^abcd"Wilks, Maurice Cary Fernand".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70295.Retrieved17 July2011.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^abMarriages.The Times,Monday, 31 May 1937; p. 1; Issue 47698
- ^abcdefg"Obituary: Mr. Maurice Wilks".The Times.10 September 1963. p. 12.
- ^James Taylor,Rover 75 and MG ZT: The Complete Story,Crowood Press 2014ISBN9781847976857
- ^Company Results Rover reorganisation,The Times,Wednesday, 23 November 1932; p. 19; Issue 46298
- ^Company Meeting.The Times,Tuesday, 10 October 1933; p. 21; Issue 46571 until 1957.
- ^abRover appoint president.The TimesSaturday, 10 June 1967; p. 18; Issue 56964
- ^abcdeNick Georgano; Nick Baldwin; Anders Clausager; Jonathan Wood (1995). Nick Georgano (ed.).Britain's Motor Industry: The First Hundred Years.G. T. Foulis.ISBN0-85429-923-8.
- ^Business Changes.The Times,Wednesday, 1 August 1956; p. 13; Issue 53598
- ^Business Changes.The Times,Monday, 7 November 1960; p. 20; Issue 54922
- ^Business Changes.The Times,Friday, 26 January 1962; p. 22; Issue 55299
- ^Business Changes.The Times,Wednesday, 1 January 1964; p. 15; Issue 55897
- ^Motor Sportmagazine page 74, September 1971