1-193-503 - National Motor Museum/Heritage Images

Charles Rolls, c1905. Rolls set up business selling French and Belgian cars before going into partnership with Henry Royce, forming the motor car and engine manufacturing company Rolls-Royce in 1904. The same year Rolls crossed the English Channel by balloon, and in June 1910 made the first non-stop double crossing by aeroplane. The following month he was killed in a plane crash.