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Henry Leland, 1843-1932
A pioneer in automobile manufacturing, Henry Leland demanded high quality and exacting specifications. In 1902 he was hired by Cadillac, and within two years he took over the firm. His use of precisely made, standardized interchangeable parts made it possible to mass-produce a high-performance luxury automobile. Leland's other advances included closed sedans, electric ignition -- which replaced dangerous hand cranks -- and the V–8 engine with thermostatic control. In 1917 he founded Lincoln Motor Company to build airplane engines during World War I. After the war he retooled the factory to produce the Lincoln luxury car. Distrustful of labor unions, Leland treated and paid his workers fairly to prevent discontent.
Financial difficulties and a postwar economic downturn forced Leland to sell his company to Henry Ford in 1922.
Leland was a striking figure with a shock of white hair and goatee, as shown here in this etching by Joseph Pierre Nuyttens.
Joseph Pierre Nuyttens, c 1909 |