Arthur Rowledge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur John Rowledge
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| Born | 30 July 1876 Peterborough, England
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| Died | 11 December 1957 (aged 81) Derby, England
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| Nationality | British |
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Arthur John Rowledge (born July 30, 1876 – died December 11, 1957) was a brilliant English engineer. He designed powerful engines for airplanes. He is famous for creating the Napier Lion engine. He also played a huge part in developing famous Rolls-Royce aircraft engines. These include the Rolls-Royce Kestrel and the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin.
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Arthur Rowledge's Early Life
Arthur Rowledge was born in Peterborough, England, in 1876. His father, John, was a bricklayer. His mother, Ann, came from a family of farmers. Arthur was the youngest of four children. He had two brothers and one sister.
He went to St Peter's College School in Peterborough. In 1891, he won a special Queen's prize for his science skills. This showed his early talent for engineering.
Starting His Engineering Career
In 1891, Arthur was an apprentice at Barford and Perkins. An apprentice is someone who learns a trade by working for an expert. He was learning to be a draughtsman, which means drawing technical plans.
After his apprenticeship, Arthur worked at R. Hoe & Co. This company made printing machines. Here, he became very interested in how complex machines work. This interest helped him a lot in his future engine designs.
Designing Engines at Napier
In 1901, Arthur Rowledge joined D. Napier & Son. At first, he designed engines for cars. Napier cars were very successful during this time. One of their cars even won the Gordon Bennett Cup race.
In 1905, he briefly worked as Chief Designer at the Wolseley Motor Company. But he returned to Napier in 1913 as their Chief Designer.
The Famous Napier Lion Engine
When World War I started, Napier began focusing on airplane engines. Arthur Rowledge designed the famous Napier Lion aero engine. This engine became very powerful by the end of the war. It helped set many flight records after the war ended. For his excellent work on the Napier Lion, Arthur was awarded the MBE.
Working at Rolls-Royce
In 1921, Arthur Rowledge moved to Rolls-Royce Limited. He became a key assistant to Sir F. H. Royce, a very famous engineer. At Rolls-Royce, he was known by the company code 'Rg'.
Developing Iconic Rolls-Royce Engines
Arthur designed the Condor III engine. He also created the Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine. He helped turn the powerful Buzzard engine into the Rolls-Royce R racing engine. This racing engine was incredibly successful. It helped planes win the famous Schneider Trophy races in 1929 and 1931.
After Sir Henry Royce passed away in 1933, Arthur became Chief Consultant at Rolls-Royce. He pushed for a new, revolutionary engine called the "Exe." This engine was designed to be very powerful and air-cooled. However, the "Exe" project was eventually stopped. This was because the Merlin engine was improving so much. Also, resources were needed for the war effort.
The Legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin
One of Arthur Rowledge's last big projects was working on the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. The Merlin engine became one of the most important aircraft engines ever made. It powered many famous planes during World War II, like the Spitfire and Hurricane.
Arthur retired from Rolls-Royce in January 1945. He was 69 years old.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring, Arthur Rowledge lived in Derby, England. In his later years, he became very deaf. He passed away on December 11, 1957, at the age of 81.
Arthur Rowledge was a true pioneer in engine design. His work helped shape the future of aviation.
Honours and Awards
- 1920 – Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
- 1931 – Gold Medal from the Institution of Automobile Engineers. This was for his work on the Schneider Trophy aero engines, especially the Rolls-Royce R engine.
- 1941 – Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Images for kids
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Arthur John Rowledge, a brilliant engineer.
