Maurice Wilks

Maurice Fernand Cary Wilks (19 August 19048 September 1963) was an English automotive and aeronautical engineer, and by the time of his death in 1963, was the chairman of the Rover Company. He was the founder of the Land Rover marque and responsible for the inspiration and concept work that led to the development of the first Land Rover off-road utility vehicle.

Early life Wilks was born on 19 August 1904 on Hayling Island, Hampshire, England, the youngest of five sons and one daughter of Thomas Wilks (born Balham), a director of Leather Co and his wife Jane Eliza (born St. Sepulchre, London), a Suffragette. One of his brothers was Spencer Wilks who became managing director, chairman and president of the Rover Car Company.

He married Barbara Martin-Hurst in 1937.

Career Maurice Wilks worked from 1922 to 1926 for the Hillman Motor Car Company in Coventry.

Wilks remained at Hillman as a planning engineer until 1930, when he moved to the Rover Company as chief engineer following his much older brother, Spencer. Spencer Wilks had been brought in from Hillman in September 1929 by Rover's Frank Searle made general manager and given a seat on Rover's board the following year. Spencer would be appointed managing director of Rover from 1932

In 1930 Spencer and Maurice Wilks on Spencer's appointment to the board made the important decision to make only high quality cars.

Shortly after the war, whilst at his farm in Anglesey, Wilks, who used an army surplus Willys Jeep for farm work, and his brother Spencer who was visiting him, were inspired to develop and produce a utility four-wheel-drive vehicle for farmers, and the name Land Rover was coined for it. and succeeded his brother as managing director in November 1960. In January 1962 preferring policy to day-to-day management he was appointed chairman of the Rover Company in succession to his older brother Spencer Wilks. The managing director appointment was given to W F F Martin-Hurst.

Death

Wilks died at his farm near Newborough, Anglesey, on 8 September 1963. He was 59. and later became engineering director but he retired for health reasons in July 1971 when only 51 and died the following year. Spencer King (1925–2010) was a nephew of Spencer and Maurice Wilks. He took over as technical director on the retirement of Peter Wilks.

Spencer Wilks and John Black of the Standard Motor Company married sisters, daughters of William Hillman bicycle and automobile manufacturer.