Lt. Col. Mark James Mayhew (1871-1944), miller, officer of Yeomanry
1871 Born the son of James William Mayhew, a miller of Wandsworth
He was educated at Harrow
1891 Living at 1 Spencer Park, Wandsworth (age 19 born Battersea), Miller's Assistant. With his parents James W. (age 52 born Little Bentley, Essex), Miller and Mary (age 51 born Finton, Essex). Plus three servants. [1]
1894 At the age of 23, he became the proprietor of the Battersea Flour Mills.
1899 Commissioned as Lieutenant in the Middlesex Imperial Yeomanry
In April 1900 he participated in an 8 hp Panhard in the first 1000-mile Reliability Trial
In 1902 Driving a 35 h.p. Napier, he took part in the Paris-Madrid race.
In May 1902, the first of five 16 hp Napier lorries with 5 ton capacity was delivered for his flour milling business.
1903 March 31st. The Motor Volunteer Corps was created and he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel to command it
As a founding member and a vice-president of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland (ACGBI), and a chairman of the Highways Committee on board of the London City Council he had fought for the recognition of the new mode of transportation.
Mayhew was a firm supporter of the Napier petrol cars long before the Gordon Bennett Trophy of 1902 and let it to be known by allowing his name being used in the firm’s promotional material.
1904 MAYHEW, Lieut.-Col. Mark, L.C.C., Bolingbroke House, Battersea, London, S.W. Cars Baby Peugeot, 18-h.p. Peugeot, 80-h.p. Napier racer. Has driven over 50,000 miles. Hobbies: Motor volunteering, sports generally. Aims at introducing mechanical haulage into commerce and war, and the motorcar into private life. Originated, and is Col.-commanding the Motor Volunteer Corps; is vice-chairman of the A.C.G.B. & I., and chairman of its Races' Committee; represents Wandsworth on the L.C.C., and is governor-director of the well-known firm of Mark Mayhew, Ltd. who are large users of motor lorries. Drove in the Paris-Madrid race (1903), creating a record for speed over 300 miles for English-built machines and English driver, and narrowly escaped death in an accident. Clubs: Cavalry, Ranelagh, and Automobile Clubs of Great Britain and Ireland, France, Switzerland, and Nice. [2]
1904 MAYHEW, Mrs. Mark, Bolingbroke House, Battersea, London, S.W. Car: 4.5-h.p. Baby Peugeot. Has driven 10,000 miles. Club: Ladies' Automobile. [3]
1909 Biographical information and image at Automotor Journal 1909/04/10
1915 Appointed temporary Captain in the Army Service Corps. [4]
1924 Mark Mayhew of Battersea Flour Mills [5]
1936 Mark Mayhew of Battersea Flour Mills [6]
1940 Death of his wife Dora Christine née Fisher age 62 [7]
1903 Bio Note [8]
MAYHEW, MARK, L.C.C.- Born in 1871, and educated at Harrow, Mr. Mark Mayhew is a merchant miller and a member of the London County Council. His principal pastime is automobilism, to which he has devoted considerable time since 1898. As a Yeomanry officer he has made considerable use of horseless vehicles during manoeuvres, and also in conducting staff officers, and frequently the Commander-in-Chief himself, on official inspections. At the present moment Mr. Mayhew is organising the Corps of Automobile Volunteers, which promises to be a great success. His latest cars now on order are a 10 h.p. Peugeot (new style) and a Napier racer. At present he uses a 7 h.p. Panhard, 27 h.p. Pascal, and a Baby Peugeot. Amongst others he has owned cars of the following makers:- Benz, Mors, and Renault.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Motoring Annual and Motorist’s Year Book 1903