Arthur John McCormack (1866-1936) OBE, CBE, of Panhard-Levassor and Wolseley
1866 February 6th. Born in Chelsea the son of William McCormack, Whitesmith and Engineer, and his wife Matilda Winter. He was the oldest of 12 children.
McCormack was involved in the Motor Industry via motorcycling where he honed his skills as a racer and an engineer working at Clyde Cycle and Motor Car Co and Gladiator Cycle Co
1881 Living at Oldway (?), Paignton: William McCormack (age 39 born St. James, Mddx), Whitesmith and Engineer. With his wife Matilda McCormack (age 38 born Yorkshire) and their seven children; Arthur J. McCormack (age 15 born Chelsea), Machinist Apprentice; Eleanor McCormack (age 10 born Chelsea); Henry McCormack (age 9 born Chelsea); Alfred McCormack (age 5 born Paignton); Walter McCormack (age 4 born Paignton); Cecelia McCormack (age 2 born Paignton); and Franklin McCormack (age ? months born Paignton). One servant.[1]
1902 Joined Panhard and Levassor where he was technical manager and was the riding mechanic to Charles Jarrott (when he won the 1902 Circuit des Ardennes race
1905 Joined Gladiator where he became the UK Manager. He entered a Gladiator car into the Gordon Bennett Trials on 23 May 1905 and then into the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy later that year.
1906 Entered the Scottish Trials in the Gladiator and again entered the Tourist Trophy (although the records show he failed to start).
1907 He had greater success in entering an 18 H.P. Siddeley into the Frome Hill Climb
He was one of the founder members of the Importers' Protection Association set-up to help foreign car manufacturers (like Gladiator) import their products into the UK
1907 Became Technical Manager at Wolseley's Adderley Park
1911 Living at Hawkesford, Castle Bromwich: Arthur John McCormack (age 45 born Chelsea), Motor Engineer - Motor Manufacturer Ltd Co. With his wife Annie Ellis McCormack (age 45 born Paignton) and their two children Monica Lois McCormack (age 16 born Plymouth) and Brian Hugh McCormack (age 12 born Fulham). Two servants.[2]
1911 Appointed Technical Director and joint MD
1923 November. Resigned from Wolseley
1926 Joined the board of A. C. Cars where he worked with Selwyn Francis Edge.
1936 April 10th. Died aged 70 at Little House, Thames Ditton and was buried in Thames Ditton