It was on this day way back in 1896 that the Daimler Motor Co. was founded by the colourful motor industry pioneer Harry John Lawson.

A former bicycle designer, Lawson saw great opportunities in the burgeoning motor industry and sought to enrich himself by garnering a number of important motoring patents. Those included the rights to use the Daimler name which were acquired from the master German engineer, Gottlieb Daimler.

Having set up a manufacturing base in Coventry, Lawson soon became mired in legal problems connected to his numerous patents and was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment in 1904 for fraudulently obtaining money from shareholders.

In the ensuing reorganisation of his finances, the Daimler Motor Co - by then renowned for luxury vehicles - was purchased by the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) who held the Daimler rights until selling them on to Jaguar in 1960.

Daimler had held a prestigious Royal Warrant to provide cars to the British Monarchy in 1902 but lost that privilege in the 1950’s after being supplanted by Rolls-Royce.

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