Arthur Rowledge


Arthur John Rowledge, was an English engineer who designed the Napier Lion aero engine and was a key figure in the development of the Rolls-Royce Merlin.

Career

Rowledge was born in Peterborough, Northamptonshire in 1876, the son of John and Ann Rowledge. His father was described as a bricklayer in 1881. At the time of the 1891 census, Rowledge was described as an Apprentice to Engineers Draughtsman and in 1901 he was in Erith, Kent boarding at Rose Hill Villas, Bexley Road and described as a Mechanical Draughtsman.
Arthur Rowledge joined D.Napier & Son in 1913 as Chief Designer. After designing car engines and the Napier Lion aero engine, Rowledge took up a similar position at Rolls-Royce Limited in 1921, where he became known as 'Rg' in company shorthand. He is credited with designing the Condor III, the Kestrel and developing the Buzzard into the Rolls-Royce R racing engine, which was used with great success at the 1929 and 1931 Schneider Trophy races. Development work on the Merlin engine was one of his last contributions to aero engine design, along with responsibility for the Exe and Pennine projects, before retiring from Rolls-Royce in 1945 at the age of 70.

Death

Rowledge died on 11 December 1957, aged 81.

Honours and awards