page_title: John Kemp Starley
hierarchical_section_title: John Kemp Starley
caption_attribution_description: "This bicycle is very important. It was designed by J.K. Starley and built at the Searley and Sutton Company's factory in West Orchard, Coventry, where the Debenhams store stands today (2008). It is called a 'Safety Cycle' because it was safer to ride than the larger Penny Farthing cycles that were used by most cyclists of the time. It is important because of its shape and some of the improvements Starley added to it. He had developing safety cycles during the 1880s. By the end of the decade he had designed a bicycle that was better than all others available at the time. It was successful because of the 'diamond' shaped frame, pedals and chain to drive the back wheel. The saddle was in the best riding position, with steering through the handlebars to the front wheel. These are all things we still have on bicycles today. This Rover Safety bicycle became the pattern for most modern examples. Do you recognize anything on this bicycle that you still have on your own bike?" Coventry Transport Museum, UK. 2009
context_page_description: John Kemp Starley was an English inventor and industrialist who is widely considered the inventor of the modern bicycle, and also originator of the name Rover.
  Starley was born on 14 December 1854 and lived on Church Hill, Walthamstow, London, England. He was the son of a gardener, John Starley, and Mary Ann. In 1872 he moved to Coventry to work with his uncle James Starley, an inventor. He worked with his uncle and William Hillman for several years building Ariel cycles.
  In 1877, he started a new business Starley & Sutton Co with William Sutton, a local cycling enthusiast. They set about developing bicycles that were safer and easier to use than the prevailing penny farthing or "ordinary" bicycles. They started by manufacturing tricycles, and by 1883 their products were being branded as "Rover".
  In 1885, Starley made history when he produced the Rover Safety Bicycle. The Rover was a rear-wheel-drive, chain-driven cycle with two similar-sized wheels, making it more stable than the previous high wheeler designs. Cycling magazine said the Rover had "set the pattern to the world" and the phrase was used in their advertising for many years.
  In 1889, the company became J. K.
context_section_description: John Kemp Starley (1854–1901) was an English inventor and industrialist who is widely considered the inventor of the modern bicycle, and also originator of the name Rover.
  Starley was born on 14 December 1854 and lived on Church Hill, Walthamstow, London, England. He was the son of a gardener, John Starley, and Mary Ann (née Cippen). In 1872 he moved to Coventry to work with his uncle James Starley, an inventor. He worked with his uncle and William Hillman for several years building Ariel cycles.
  In 1877, he started a new business Starley & Sutton Co with William Sutton, a local cycling enthusiast. They set about developing bicycles that were safer and easier to use than the prevailing penny farthing or "ordinary" bicycles. They started by manufacturing tricycles, and by 1883 their products were being branded as "Rover".
  In 1885, Starley made history when he produced the Rover Safety Bicycle.  The Rover was a rear-wheel-drive, chain-driven cycle with two similar-sized wheels, making it more stable than the previous high wheeler designs. Cycling magazine said the Rover had "set the pattern to the world" and the phrase was used in their advertising for many years.
  In 1889, the company became J. K. Starley & Co. Ltd and in the late 1890s, it had become the Rover Cycle Company Ltd.
  Starley died suddenly on 29 October 1901, and was succeeded as managing director of the firm by Harry Smyth. Soon after Starley's death the Rover company began building motorcycles and then cars.
caption: 1888 Rover safety bicycle in the Coventry Transport Museum
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