11 Facts About Claude Johnson

Claude Goodman Johnson was a British motor vehicle manufacturer who was instrumental in the creation of Rolls-Royce Limited.

When Royce fell ill and took his design staff home in 1908, and after the death of Rolls in July 1910, it was Claude Johnson who was responsible for keeping the business running, until his own death in April 1926.

Claude Johnson was born in Datchet, Berkshire on 24 October 1864 to the middle of the large family of William Goodman Johnson and his wife Sophia Fanny.

Claude Johnson's father was on the staff of the South Kensington Museum.

Claude Johnson became a close friend with newspaper proprietor Alfred Harmsworth which ensured more publicity, Harmsworth personally dominated the British press.

Claude Johnson brought the necessary business acumen to the partnership of Rolls and Royce.

Claude Johnson persuaded the increasingly temperamental Royce to work at home with a team of draughtsmen.

Claude Johnson drove his unique Silver Ghost non-stop around Britain for 15,000 miles and then asked the RAC to strip it down and restore its working parts to mint condition.

Claude Johnson died on 12 April 1926 aged 61 at his house in London, 3 Adelphi Terrace House, Robert St, now NW1.

Mr Basil Claude Johnson, who has been appointed the new managing director, was previously the general manager, and for 12 years shared with his brother the management of the company's affairs.

Claude Johnson wrote The Early History of Motoring published after his death in 1927 by E J Burrow, London.