James Starley

James Starley (* April 21, 1830 in Albourne, West Sussex, † June 17, 1881 in Coventry, West Midlands ) was a British inventor and manufacturer.

In 1861 he founded with Josiah Turner, a sewing machine manufacturing. Inspired by former Velocipede he began in 1868 with the production of bicycles. Developed jointly with William Hillman and he produced bicycles that were constantly improved. The collective name Ariel brought 1870, the penny-farthing " Ariel " on the market.

The Rover Safety Bicycle was developed in 1885 by his nephew John Kemp Starley ( Rover means wanderer ). For the production of the Rover Safety Wheels Starley & Sutton Co., the first was founded in Coventry. Hence the technology still unknown car brand Rover developed.