Robert Bamford

Robert Bamford (16 June 1883 – 1942) was an English engineer, who with Lionel Walker Birch Martin (15 March 1878– 21 October 1945), founded a company in January 1913 that became Aston Martin.

Robert Bamford
Born16 June 1883[1]
Lamarsh, Essex, England
Died1942 (aged 58–59)
Brighton, Sussex, England
NationalityEnglish
OccupationEngineer, entrepreneur
Known forFounding Bamford & Martin (later Aston Martin)
Spouse(s)Matilda Etches
ChildrenPatricia Bamford
RelativesRobin Jacques (son-in-law)

Early life

He was born in Lamarsh in Essex, and was the eldest son of Rev Robert Bamford (1854–1898). His grandfather was another Rev Robert Bamford (1825–1893) who was a vicar in Highworth, Wiltshire. His parents married in 1882.

His mother remarried after his father's death. His brother was Edward Bamford (1887–1928). Bamford, historically, is a Lancashire surname. He attended a university. In World War I he became a lieutenant with the Army Service Corps.[2]

The site of Bamford & Martin in London SW3

Career

Aston Martin

Bamford & Martin Ltd was founded at 16 Henniker Place in West Kensington (off Fulham Road – the A308) on 15 January 1913.[3] They produced their first Aston-Martin car, the Coal Scuttle, in March 1915. Robert Bamford was the engineer of the partnership. In 1920 he retired from Bamford & Martin; Lionel Martin left in 1926. In the mid-1920s the company would undergo many changes of ownership. It would be largely through the ownership of David Brown Ltd. of Huddersfield that Aston-Martin would become the company renowned during the 1950s, who bought Aston-Martin for £20,500 (£808,000 current value) in 1947.

He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2013.[4][5]

Personal life

In 1911 he was living at 41 Twickenham Road in Teddington.[6] He became engaged to fashion designer Muriel Matilda Etches (born 1898) in May 1918, the eldest daughter of C.T.W. Etches. They were married in 1919 in Newton Abbot in Devon. They had a daughter, Patricia, born in Brentford in Middlesex in 1921, and she married the illustrator Robin Jacques in 1943.[7][8]

In 1939, he had retired to South Street, Ditchling, Sussex, and died in 1942 aged 59 in Brighton.

References
  1. 1939 Register
  2. "No. 29337". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 October 1915. p. 10477.
  3. "Aston Martin Heritage Trust. 2012 Walter Hayes Memorial Lecture". www.amht.org.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  4. Siu, Jason (14 June 2013). "Bob Lutz, Among Five Automotive Hall of Fame Inductees". AutoGuide.com. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  5. "Robert Bamford". Hall of Fame Inductees. Automotive Hall of Fame. 2010. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  6. 1911 Census
  7. "Obituary: Robin Jacques". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  8. "OBITUARIES: Robin Jacques". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
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