William Rootes, 1st Baron Rootes

For his son, see William Geoffrey Rootes. For the British politician, see William Roots.

The Lord Rootes
Rootes in 1937
Born
William Edward Rootes

(1894-08-17)17 August 1894
Goudhurst
Died12 December 1964(1964-12-12) (aged 70)
NationalityBritish
OccupationBusinessman
Known forFounder of Rootes Group

William Edward Rootes, 1st Baron Rootes GBE (17 August 1894 – 12 December 1964) was a British motor manufacturer. He opened his first car sales agency in 1913, leading to the global Rootes Group. During the Second World War he supervised the volume manufacture of aircraft and engines, as well as the supply of military motor vehicles and armoured fighting vehicles.[1] He was knighted in 1942 for these services and for organising the reconstruction of bomb-damaged Coventry after its saturation bombing by the Luftwaffe on 14–15 November 1940. In the 1950s, he became a leader of Britain's export drive,[1] and chaired a committee to found the University of Warwick with a vision of academic links with industry.[2] The Rootes Social Building and halls of residence were built at the university c. 1966, named posthumously in his honour.[2][3]

  1. ^ a b Lord Rootes: Last of Car Triumvirate Obituary in The Glasgow Herald, 14 December 1964
  2. ^ a b History of The University at University of Warwick official website
  3. ^ “Voices of the Campus”: February 2015 - Campus Development