Ernest Hives, 1st Baron Hives
The Lord Hives | |
|---|---|
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| In office 7 July 1950 – 24 April 1965 | |
| Preceded by | New peerage |
| Succeeded by | John Harwick Hives |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 April 1886 Reading, Berkshire, England |
| Died | 24 April 1965 (aged 79) London, England |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Known for | Rolls-Royce Merlin |
Ernest Walter Hives, 1st Baron Hives CH MBE (21 April 1886 – 24 April 1965), was the one-time head of the Rolls-Royce Aero Engine division and chairman of Rolls-Royce Ltd.
Hives was born in Reading, Berkshire to John and Mary Hives, living at 31 Christchurch Road from at least 1891 to 1901. During the Second World War he was closely involved with the design of the Merlin engine as well as numerous later Rolls-Royce jet engines. He began his working life in a local garage. However, in 1903 he got a job working at C.S. Rolls' car company, after fixing Rolls' car. He was widely known as "Hs", and signed thus.