John Kemp Starley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Kemp Starley
|
|
|---|---|
John Kemp Starley
|
|
| Born | 24 December 1855 |
| Died | 29 October 1901 (aged 45) Coventry, Warwickshire, England
|
| Occupation | Industrialist Inventor |
| Years active | 1877–1901 |
| Known for | Owning Starley & Sutton Co |
John Kemp Starley (born December 24, 1855 – died October 29, 1901) was an English inventor. He was also an industrialist, which means he owned and managed businesses. Many people believe he invented the modern safety bicycle. He also started the famous "Rover" brand name.
Contents
John Starley's Early Life
John Starley was born on December 24, 1855. He lived in Walthamstow, London, England. His father, also named John Starley, was a gardener.
In 1872, John moved to Coventry. He went to work with his uncle, James Starley, who was also an inventor. John worked with his uncle and William Hillman for several years. They built bicycles called "Ariel" cycles.
Inventing the Modern Bicycle
Starting a New Business
In 1877, John Starley started his own business. It was called Starley & Sutton Co. He started it with William Sutton, who loved cycling. They wanted to make bicycles that were safer and easier to ride.
At that time, many people rode "penny farthing" bicycles. These bikes had one very large front wheel and a tiny back wheel. They were hard to balance and dangerous if you fell.
.jpg)
Starley and Sutton first made tricycles. By 1883, their products were being called "Rover".
The Rover Safety Bicycle
In 1885, Starley created something very important: the Rover Safety Bicycle. This bike was very different from the penny farthing.
The Rover had two wheels that were about the same size. It also had a chain that connected the pedals to the back wheel. This made it much more stable and easier to ride. It was also much safer!
A magazine called Cycling said the Rover had "set the pattern to the world". This meant it was the model for all future bicycles. The company used this phrase in their advertisements for many years.
Company Changes
In 1889, the company changed its name. It became J. K. Starley & Co. Ltd. By the late 1890s, it was known as the Rover Cycle Company Ltd.
Later Years and Legacy
John Starley died suddenly on October 29, 1901, in Coventry. Harry Smyth took over as the head of the company.
Soon after Starley's death, the Rover company started making motorcycles. After that, they began building cars too. John Starley's inventions truly changed how people traveled!
See also
- Rover (motorcycles)
