Jack Irving
Born 1880 · Age 145
British automobile and aeronautical engineer (MIAE) best known for designing the Irving‑Napier land speed record car Golden Arrow. Served at Daimler, the Royal Aircraft Establishment (Balloon Factory), Sunbeam, Humfrey‑Sandberg, Humber/Hillman and Bendix. Institution of Automobile Engineers council member and president (1936–37).
Compare Your Trajectory
See how your career milestones stack up against Jack Irving and other industry leaders.
Life & Career Timeline
Born in Manchester
John Samuel Irving (later known as Jack Irving) was born in Manchester, England.
Completed apprenticeship and joined Daimler Company
After serving an apprenticeship in toolmaking and general engineering, Irving joined the Daimler Company.
Awarded City and Guilds silver medal for motorcar engineering
Received the London City and Guilds silver medal for motorcar engineering.
Became member of Institution of Automobile Engineers
Joined the Institution of Automobile Engineers (membership noted from 1908).
Lecturer at Coventry & Warwickshire Technical Institutes
Served as a lecturer at Coventry and Warwickshire Technical Institutes (date cited alongside 1908 award).
Left Daimler
Irving remained with Daimler until 1910 before moving to aeronautical work.
Joined Balloon Factory (Royal Aircraft Establishment) at South Farnborough
Moved from Daimler to the Balloon Factory (later known as the Royal Aircraft Establishment) to work with Colonel Mervyn O'Gorman.
Made chief of engine research & development at the Balloon Factory
Appointed chief of engine research and development; closely involved in airship experiments and design.
Served with the Royal Flying Corps in World War I
From the outbreak of the First World War, Irving served with the Royal Flying Corps.
Adopted the title 'Captain' after wartime service
Following wartime service in the RFC Irving chose to be addressed by his rank of Captain.
Joined Sunbeam as Chief Experimental Engineer
After the war Irving joined Sunbeam as Chief Experimental Engineer, working on airship power plants and experimental engineering.
Developed powerplants for airships R33, R34, R36 and R38
At Sunbeam Irving developed engines/power plants for the major post‑war airships R33, R34, R36 and R38.
Contributed to Talbot‑Darracq racing successes
Irving's period at Sunbeam and related work coincided with successes by Talbot Darracq (noted as part of his racing responsibilities).
Became Engineer to Sunbeam and took on racing responsibilities
Later elevated to Engineer to Sunbeam and took responsibility for Sunbeam's car and motor‑boat racing programmes.
Sunbeam won the French Grand Prix (programme Irving oversaw)
Under Irving's technical stewardship Sunbeam achieved the notable success of winning the 1923 French Grand Prix.
Worked on twin‑engined 1000 hp Sunbeam land speed record car
Was involved (under patronage of Louis Coatalen) with the twin‑engined 1000 horsepower Sunbeam land speed record breaker of 1927.
Developed freewheel / easy gear change device at Humfrey‑Sandberg
Worked on transmission innovations (freewheel and easy gear change) for Humfrey‑Sandberg.
Appointed Technical Director of combined Humber and Hillman
Became technical director of the combined Humber and Hillman manufacturers in the late 1920s, overseeing product design.
Joined Humfrey‑Sandberg Co (appointment after Sunbeam)
Left Sunbeam to take an appointment with Humfrey‑Sandberg Co to develop freewheel and easy gear change devices.
Golden Arrow acknowledged as Irving‑Napier car
Contemporary reports referred to the vehicle as the Irving‑Napier Golden Arrow, cementing Irving's reputation.
Golden Arrow test run and public road return at Daytona
On its first (and only) test run Segrave drove the Golden Arrow up planks to leave the beach and returned the car through Daytona's main street to its garage; the car was noted as more docile than contemporaries.
Designed and constructed the Irving‑Napier Golden Arrow
Using permission from Humfrey‑Sandberg, Irving designed and built the Golden Arrow for ex‑Sunbeam driver Henry Segrave. The car is contemporarily referred to as the Irving‑Napier Golden Arrow.
Responsible for design of Hillman Minx
As part of his Humber/Hillman role, Irving had responsibility for the design of Hillman's new Minx and was assisted by A.H. Wilde.
Elected to council of the Institution of Automobile Engineers
Became a member of the Institution of Automobile Engineers' council in 1931 and served until his death in 1953.
Joined Bendix Limited
Irving left Humber/Hillman and joined Bendix Limited in 1931.
Served as President of the Institution of Automobile Engineers (start)
Became President of the Institution of Automobile Engineers for the 1936–1937 term.
Completed term as President of the Institution of Automobile Engineers
Concluded his presidency of the Institute in 1937 (served 1936–1937).
Legacy: remembered for Golden Arrow and airship/automotive engineering
Posthumous recognition centers on Irving's design of the Golden Arrow and his contributions to airship engines, Sunbeam racing, and automotive engineering.
Died at Acocks Green, Birmingham
Captain J. S. Irving died on 28 March 1953 in Acocks Green, Birmingham. He was survived by a son and daughter.
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Jack Irving and others achieved at these notable ages:
Similar Trajectories
Eleanor Roosevelt
Born 1884 · Age 141
American political figure, diplomat, activist; longest-serving U.S. First Lady (1933–1945); chair of UN Commission on Human Rights and key drafter/champion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Napoleon Hill
Born 1883 · Age 142
American self-help author best known for Think and Grow Rich (1937). Prolific publisher and lecturer whose career included successful books, many short-lived businesses, repeated fraud allegations, high-profile associations (often disputed), and creation of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.
Franz Kafka
Born 1883 · Age 142
German-language Jewish Czech writer and novelist (1883–1924). Trained as a lawyer, worked in insurance while writing seminal modernist works including The Metamorphosis, The Trial, and The Castle. Died of tuberculosis aged 40. Much of his fame came posthumously.
Coco Chanel
Born 1883 · Age 142
French fashion designer and businesswoman; founder of the House of Chanel. Revolutionized women's fashion (sporty chic, little black dress, Chanel suit), created Chanel No.5 and the interlocked-CC logo; controversial wartime activities and later a 1954 comeback.
Alexander Fleming
Born 1881 · Age 144
Scottish physician and microbiologist; discovered lysozyme (1921) and penicillin (1928); shared 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Howard Florey and Ernst Chain.
H. L. Mencken
Born 1880 · Age 145
American journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic and scholar of American English; longtime writer for The Baltimore Sun, co-founder of The American Mercury, author of The American Language, and a leading literary critic of the early 20th century.