34 Facts About Dorothy Levitt

Dorothy Levitt was the first British woman racing driver, holder of the world's first water speed record, the women's world land speed record holder, and an author.

Dorothy Levitt was a pioneer of female independence and female motoring and taught Queen Alexandra and the Royal Princesses how to drive.

Dorothy Levitt was born Elizabeth Levi, in Hackney on 5 January 1882.

Dorothy Levitt was the daughter of Jacob Levi, a prosperous jeweller, tea dealer, and Commission Agent of Colvestone Crescent, Hackney.

Dorothy Levitt's mother was born Julia Raphael in Aldgate on 31 October 1856 and married Jacob Levi in March 1877.

Dorothy Levitt had two sisters: Lilly, ; and Elsie Ruby.

Scant information is available about Dorothy Levitt's life except indications that she was an experienced horse rider.

Dorothy Levitt described remaining astride a galloping horse while it negotiated jumps in a steeplechase as easier than retaining a seat in a car being driven at speed.

When or how Dorothy Levitt met Edge is unclear, as several versions and nuances are reported and both she and Edge appear to have been "orientated towards self-publicity".

Edge noticed Dorothy Levitt, who was described by author Jean Francois Bouzanquet as a "beautiful secretary with long legs and eyes like pools", working in the Napier office and promoted her to become his personal assistant, as she fulfilled almost all of his criteria for a suitable woman to attract extra publicity for the company.

Later newspaper accounts paint a "romantic history" for Dorothy Levitt by reporting that when she was twenty her parents moved to the countryside and tried to arrange a marriage for her.

Dorothy Levitt is presumed to have been his mistress for a time.

Dorothy Levitt had to be taught to drive and Leslie Callingham, a young salesman employed by Napiers, was instructed to undertake the task during his day off work.

Fortunately Dorothy Levitt was a fast learner as Callingham disliked her intensely and was affronted at having to teach a woman to drive.

The driver was required to undertake any necessary maintenance during the proceedings so Edge had to ensure Dorothy Levitt was proficient in mechanics.

In later interviews, Dorothy Levitt described how after Edge advised her to make a career in automobiles, he arranged a six-month apprenticeship to a French automobile maker in Paris, where she learned all aspects of building and driving cars.

Dorothy Levitt did not feature among the prize winners but determined that she would improve.

Dorothy Levitt raced dressed in flattering feminine outfits complete with co-ordinating hat and veil; a loose, lightweight coat, which became popularly known as a dust coat, afforded overall protection to her fashionable clothes.

Dorothy Levitt described poker as her favourite game and claimed significant expertise at roulette.

Dorothy Levitt was noted for her ever-present, yappy, black Pomeranian dog called Dodo.

Dorothy Levitt is exactly, or almost so, the direct opposite of such a picture.

Dorothy Levitt was described as "slight in nature, shy and shrinking, almost timid".

In July 1903, Dorothy Levitt won the inaugural British International Harmsworth Trophy for motor-boats, defeating the French entry Trefle-A-Quatre.

On 8 August 1903, Dorothy Levitt drove the Napier motor-boat at Cowes and won the race.

Dorothy Levitt drove an 8-horse-power De Dion-Bouton from London to Liverpool and back in two days, without the aid of a mechanic but accompanied by an official observer, her pet Pomeranian dog Dodo, plus a revolver.

Dorothy Levitt won her class, the Brighton Sweepstakes and the Autocar Challenge Trophy.

Dorothy Levitt was unsuccessful in a challenge run against a White Motor Company steam car driven by Frederic A Coleman of Camden, London.

In 1909 Dorothy Levitt attempted to qualify as a pilot at the Hubert Latham School of Aviation at Chalons Camp Mourmelon-le-Grand, between Chalons-en-Champagne and Rheims in France.

Dorothy Levitt attended along with Marie Marvingt and Baroness Raymonde de Laroche, the only woman ever licensed in the difficult to fly Antoinette monoplane.

Dorothy Levitt became the leading exponent of a woman's "right to motor" and in 1909 published The Woman and the Car: A Chatty Little Hand Book for Women Who Motor or Want to Motor, based on her newspaper column in The Graphic.

Dorothy Levitt gave many lectures to encourage women to take up motoring.

Dorothy Levitt tried to counter the cliches about mechanically ignorant females:.

Dorothy Levitt's career reflected that of several of her contemporaries with a meteoric rise to prominence before abruptly vanishing from public engagements, and her life after 1910 is undocumented.

Dorothy Levitt was found dead in her bed at 50 Upper Baker Street on 17 May 1922 in Marylebone, according to probate granted on 27 September 1922.