Robert Bamford

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

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 became a Lieutenant with the 33rd Royal Army Service Corps.

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.^[2] 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 (£723,000 current value) in 1947.

He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2013.^[3][4]

Personal life

In 1911 he was living at 41 Twickenham Road in Teddington.^[5] He became engaged to 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. In 1939 he had retired to South Street, Chailey (now in East Sussex).

He died in 1942 aged 59 in Brighton. His daughter married in 1948.

References

External links

• Grace's Guide