James Sidney Critchley (1865–1944) was an English mechanical engineer, car designer and automotive pioneer. J. S. Critchley was born in Dewsbury, England in 1865 to William and Sarah and educated at Bradford Grammar School. He served apprenticeship articles with J. Waugh, of Bradford and Thomas Green and Sons, Leeds, makers of tram locomotives, and went on to specialise in the design and construction of industrial machinery. In 1896 he was interviewed by

Frederick Richard Simms Frederick Richard Simms (12 August 1863 – 22 April 1944)M.I.M.E., M.I.A.E., M.I.Ae.E., M.S.E.; Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Member of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, Member of the Institution of Aeronautica ...

and was appointed as Works manager to the

Daimler Company The Daimler Company Limited ( ), prior to 1910 The Daimler Motor Company Limited, was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H. J. Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The compan ...

at the Coventry Motor Mills. He was described as "one of the few men in England with a practical knowledge of motor engineering". In May, 1898 he drove the Prince of Wales on his first motor journey on English roads taking him from Warwick Castle to Compton Verney and Wellesbourne. In around 1898 he was promoted to General Manager. He left Daimler in 1901 and joined the Brush Electrical Engineering Company, Limited who were experimenting with car production in their Lambeth works in London. He was a founder member of the

Royal Automobile Club The Royal Automobile Club is a British private social and athletic club. It has two clubhouses: one in London at 89 Pall Mall, and the other in the countryside at Woodcote Park, near Epsom in Surrey. Both provide accommodation and a range o ...

and in 1902 Critchley and Simms founded the

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is the trade association for the United Kingdom motor industry. Its role is to "promote the interests of the UK automotive industry at home and abroad." History SMMT was founded by Frede ...

. In 1903

Crossley Brothers Crossley, based in Manchester, United Kingdom, was a pioneering company in the production of internal combustion engines. Since 1988 it has been part of the Rolls-Royce Power Engineering group. More than 100,000 Crossley oil and gas engines ...

decided to go into car production and asked Critchley to design them a car. This car, the 22 hp was introduced in 1904 followed in 1906 by the 40 hp. After this design was finalised he left Crossley and set up his own business as a design Consultant with offices at Chancery Lane and then Tottenham Court Road in London. He was president of the Institution of Automobile Engineers in 1913-15. During World War I he became chief inspector of motor transport with the rank of captain. With peace he returned to his engineering consultancy. Captain J. S. Critchley M.I.M.E. died in 1944 at Bickley, Kent age 79.

Private life

James Critchley married Annie in 1897.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Critchley, James S. 1865 births British automobile designers British automotive engineers 1944 deaths Daimler people