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Did you know Rolls Royce was created by a bankrupt kid with no education and only £20 to his name?
This is the wild story of Henry Royce – Founder of Rolls Royce.
To say Henry had it tough growing up is an understatement.
His family went bankrupt right as he was born, forcing him to get a job as a human scarecrow at just 4 years old.
Then aged 9, his family went bankrupt AGAIN and Henry was forced to drop out of school to find work and support the family by doing odd jobs in the area.
By 15, Henry had completed just 1 year of school and was sent away to London by his family to find work.
In London he started an apprenticeship in a garage, repairing cars and studied electrical engineering at night to refine his skills.
He was then made redundant and faced bankruptcy again – for a third time.
Ever resilient, Henry decided to use the remaining £20 to his name, Henry decided to start a company – Royce & co.
Through a series of trial and error, Henry actually created the world’s first electric doorbell – which was an huge hit.
He then used this success to fund his true passion – cars.
It was here that Rolls Royce was born.
Partnering with Charles Rolls – A wealthy car distributor – the two of them built what was deemed “The World’s Most Luxurious Car” in 1906 and instantly became international sensations.
Tragically, Charles Rolls died in an air disaster in 1910, and Henry Royce died aged 70 in 1933, but what the two of them left behind was an irrefutable legacy.
The world’s most luxury car brand, driven by elites and built by bankrupt mechanics stemming from poverty – it’s really an incredible rags-to-riches story.
An insane rise from a truly iconic example of resilience and ingenuity – Henry Royce, take a bow.
