9781422269671

In January of 1903, having earned two degrees and athletic honors, and already with two career positions under his belt, Rolls approached his father for an investment to found his own company. Knowing his own strong sales skills and the growing interest in automobiles, he pitched to his dad the idea of opening a car dealership. The nobleman provided his son with £6,600 (£1,026,726.89 or $1,273,449.36 in today’s terms) in today’s terms, to found C.S. Rolls & Co. in Lillie Hall, Fulham. Initially the auto firm would import and sell Minerva cars from Belgium, and Peugeot cars from France. Rolls also developed an interest in aviation in 1903, helping to found the Royal Aero Club. He became the second person to earn a pilot’s license through the club. He embarked on numerous aviation adventures, including setting the record for the longest single flight, for which he won the Gordon Bennett Gold Medal. In 1909, Rolls bought Wright Flyer aircraft, with which he made over 200 flights. One year later, he became the first person to make a nonstop double flight across the English Channel, for which he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Aero Club. However, only one month after his successful crossing of the English Channel, he was killed in an air crash during a flying display at Bournemouth, becoming the first Briton to die in a plane crash. He was only 32 years old when he died.

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