# William S. Harley

William Sylvester Harley (December 29, 1880 – September 18, 1943) was an American mechanical engineer and businessman. He was one of the four co-founders of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company.

## Early life

Harley was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1880 to William Harley Sr., a railway engineer, and Mary Smith from Littleport, Cambridgeshire, England who emigrated to the United States in 1860.

## Career

After moving to Milwaukee's north side on Burleigh Avenue, he started working at the Meiselbach bicycle factory at the age of 15. Harley's interest in bicycles, coupled with his natural mechanical inclination, sparked his curiosity in motorized vehicles. In 1901, while working as an apprentice draftsman at the Barth Mfg. Co., Harley started designing an engine that could be mounted on an ordinary bicycle. Together with his childhood friend Arthur Davidson, they worked on designing a motorized bicycle in a small wooden shed in the Davidson family's backyard.
Over the next few years, Harley and his childhood friend Arthur Davidson worked on their motor-bicycle with the help of Henry Melk, who owned a machine shop in northside Milwaukee. They later received help from Ole Evinrude, who was then building gas engines of his own design for automotive use on Milwaukee's Lake Street. Harley and Davidson built their first successful prototype in 1903, which featured a looped frame, a gasoline-powered engine, and a leather drive belt. The motorcycle was tested and refined over the next few years, with the duo making improvements to the engine, frame, and transmission. By 1906, they had produced a reliable and road-worthy motorcycle that they named the Harley-Davidson.
Harley received a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1907. He co-founded Harley-Davidson with Arthur Davidson in 1903 and served as chief engineer and treasurer until his death in 1943. While in college he worked at a Madison architect's office and as a waiter for the Kappa Sigma fraternity house.
The first Harley-Davidson factory opened in Milwaukee in 1906, and the company began producing motorcycles for sale to the general public. Harley served as the company's chief engineer, designing and improving their motorcycles until his death in 1943.

## Personal life

In 1910 he married Anna Jachthuber, with whom he had two sons and a daughter. In his spare time, Harley took up hunting, fishing and golf, and was also noted for his affinity for sketching and wildlife photography. Harley died of heart failure in Milwaukee on September 18, 1943, at the age of 62.

## Legacy

He was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.
In 2003, a Harley-Davidson statue was unveiled in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, to commemorate the centenary of the famous motorcycle company. William Harley, the father of the company's co-founder William Sylvester Harley, had been born in Victoria Street, Littleport, in 1835, before emigrating to the United States in 1859.

### Labor Hall of Honor

Because Harley, Arthur Davidson, William A. Davidson, and Walter Davidson "used and believed in its products and relied on the dedication of its employees to produce quality motorcycles", the four men were inducted into the Labor Hall of Honor.

### Posthumous Recognition and Influence

After William S. Harley's death in 1943, his contributions to the motorcycle industry continued to be recognized and celebrated. The Harley-Davidson company, under the leadership of Arthur Davidson and other company executives, grew into one of the most influential motorcycle manufacturers in the world. The Harley-Davidson name became synonymous with American-made craftsmanship, style, and freedom. The company’s success is, in large part, attributed to the foundational work and engineering principles that Harley established in the company’s early years.
Over the years, Harley-Davidson motorcycles became iconic, particularly among the American counterculture movement in the mid-20th century. Motorcycles from the brand were embraced by rebels and icons, such as Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1953), cementing the company's role in American pop culture. This enduring cultural association continues to this day, with Harley-Davidson motorcycles being seen as symbols of independence and the open road.
In addition to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction in 1998, Harley has been honored in numerous other ways. The Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, opened in 2008, showcases the history and contributions of the company and its founders, including William S. Harley. The museum houses artifacts, motorcycles, and personal memorabilia that highlight the legacy of the company's pioneers. Harley’s vision is preserved as part of this extensive collection, further solidifying his place in history.

### The Harley-Davidson Legacy in Engineering and Education

William S. Harley’s engineering principles and commitment to mechanical innovation have had a lasting impact not only on the motorcycle industry but also in the field of mechanical engineering education. His approach to problem-solving, attention to detail, and dedication to perfecting design are qualities that continue to inspire aspiring engineers and mechanics around the world.
Many universities and technical schools offering mechanical engineering programs include Harley-Davidson motorcycles in their curriculums, using them as case studies in applied engineering. Harley’s work also continues to be celebrated in engineering conferences and forums, where his contributions to internal combustion engine technology, transmission design, and frame construction are still considered benchmarks in the field.