Edward Manville
Sir Edward Manville (1862–1933) (formerly Mosely[1]) M.Inst.E.E. was a British consulting electrical engineer, industrialist and politician.
Born in Paddington 27 September 1862, son of London surgeon dentist Benjamin Ephraim Manville (formerly Mosely) and Adeline Hyam he was educated at University College School, London and technical institutions. As an electrical engineer he was consulted by many local authorities and electrical undertakings in Britain and abroad.[2]
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Electrical engineering [edit]
Manville had been attracted to the practical study of electricity at a time of invention and discovery. He obtained an apprenticeship with the well-known electrical firm of Woodhouse and Rawson where he met Madgen with whom he first set up a practice as consulting electrical engineers. He later joined the Westminster firm of Kincaid and Waller and was responsible for many important undertakings including the tramway system of Buenos Aires, considered a model of its kind.[3]
His Westminster electrical engineering consultancy advised on the electrification of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway for which Dudley Docker's Metropolitan Amalgamated Carriage and Wagon Company provided the equipment. He and Docker were later co-directors of the Metropolitan Railway and were political adherents during the war period when Docker was president of the Federation of British Industry and Manville led the Association of British Chambers of Commerce.[4]
Television pioneer [edit]
He was first chairman of the Baird Television Development Company which held its first meeting 18 July 1927. The object of the company was to develop commercially the Baird television and other inventions. As a professional electrical engineer Manville may have felt obliged to keep abreast of all Baird's developments. His attention was not welcome. Baird altered the doorway to his laboratory and managed to exclude the portly Sir Edward. Baird said he preferred to keep a distance from Manville's "booming voice" and just view him at the far end of the boardroom table "like a florid sunset seen through a cloud of cigar smoke".[5] Commercial exploitation was continued by Baird Television Limited incorporated in May 1929. Government and BBC having become important, Lord Ampthill, a former (acting) viceroy of India, was made chairman and Manville a director.[6]
Motor industry [edit]
In the automobile industry as chairman of both Birmingham Small Arms Company and its wholly owned subsidiary The Daimler Company he personally brought about the introduction of the Knight sleeve-valve engine and its acquisition by Daimler and the incorporation of the fluid flywheel and epicyclic transmission system throughout Daimler's full range of vehicles. He shared his electrical engineering background with Daimler's managing director, American-born Percy Martin. Together they took Daimler to it greatest success, Manville serving on its board twenty-eight years from 1905 until his death in 1933.[3]
The two electrical engineers working so closely together may have led to Daimler's over-emphasis on technically rewarding rather than readily saleable products and the way Daimlers kept their sedate image, seeming to cater for royalty and 'dowagers'. Lanchester was acquired with the intent to show a different image but in the event their cars, like BSA's, became Daimlers wearing different names.[4]
In his early days on their board Manville and in a different car his first wife, Maud, drove works-prepared cars in competition.[7]
He was president of The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders from 1907 to 1913.
His election to the House of Commons was an outcome of his association with Daimler.[3]
Parliament [edit]
Edward Manville was Unionist member of Parliament for Coventry from 1918 to 1923 and was knighted in 1923 at the end of his term.[2]
Wide interests and involvements [edit]
He was also chairman of Car and General Insurance Corporation, Reinsurance Corporation and Phoenix Oil and Transport. In addition he was formerly president of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and vice-president of the Federation of British Industries as well as being a director of about 15 other companies.[3] When compelled to reveal all directorships by the 1930 Companies Act Manville reported he was on 27 boards of directors.[7] He found time for civil and masonic activities and was a Past Master of several City Livery Companies.[3]
Early death [edit]
Sir Edward Manville died after a short illness in London 17 March 1933 aged 70. He was survived by his second wife Rachel, daughter of Mr John Holmes a civil engineer of Calcutta who died in 1940. His first wife Maud daughter of Colonel C. T. Wallis had died in 1909.[2]
Maud Manville drove a works-prepared 45 hp Daimler to 11th place in the 5-day 1906 Herkomer Trophy and won the speed trial ahead of Edward. The Kaiser's brother, Prince Henry of Prussia, apologised to her for the over-competitive behaviour of some of his countrymen.[7]
There were no children of either marriage.
References [edit]
- ^ Adrian Room, Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 2010, McFarland & Co
- ^ a b c Death Of Sir E. Manville. The Times, Saturday, Mar 18, 1933; pg. 12; Issue 46396
- ^ a b c d e Obituaries A.H.F. The Times, Monday, Mar 20, 1933; pg. 14; Issue 46397
- ^ a b R. P. T. Davenport-Hines, Dudley Docker: The Life and Times of a Trade Warrior, 2004, Cambridge University Press
- ^ Russell W. Burns John Logie Baird: television pioneer, 2000, The Institution of Electrical Engineers
- ^ R. W. Burns, British television: the formative years 1986 Peter Peregrinus
- ^ a b c Lord Montagu and David Burgess-Wise Daimler Century ; Stephens 1995 ISBN 1-85260-494-8
External links [edit]
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir Edward Manville
- SIR EDWARD MANVILLE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by David Marshall Mason |
Member of Parliament for Coventry 1918–1923 |
Succeeded by Albert Arthur Purcell |
