Vehicle   

Sewell's Daimler car

Categories: Tragedy

On 25 February 1899 this petrol-driven, Diamler, motor car was being driven by Edwin Sewell on Grove Hill in Harrow, when the rear wheel collapsed and Sewell and his passenger, Major Richer, were thrown from the vehicle. Sewell died at the site but Richer died in hospital 4 days later, the first recorded driver and passenger fatalities respectively, of a petrol-driven vehicle. Interesting to note that no other vehicle was involved. There are reports that the car overturned but the photo does not show the amount of damage one would expect were that true.

We can understand that Sewell, an engineer, would be an early-adopter of motor cars. But his address at death is a small house and his effects, in current terms, were about £18,000, so he was not a rich man, surely not able to afford a motor car. Perhaps he was employed as engineer/driver to Richer, who lived up to his name, but he wasn't richer by much. His house was slightly larger and his worth at death was, in today's terms, about £57,000. His last occupation, superintendent tramways, does not suggest the wealthy man one imagines splashing out on a car. In July 1897, the end of its first 7 months, the Daimler factory had manufactured a total of 20 cars and was producing 3 per week. We can't discover how much a car cost at this time but it was not an item that most people could afford.

The source of this image, Daimler, have other lovely early photographs of their cars.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sewell's Daimler car

Commemorated ati

First driver killed in road accident

Take Heed The first recorded motor accident in Great Britain involving the de...

Read More

Other Subjects

Lee J. Hatley

Lee J. Hatley

Stabbed to death at a flat in Canonbury. Lived in Morland Mews for 25 years. Good friends with another local young knife victim,  J. J. McPhillips. Both attended nearby Highbury Grove school and sp...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
John Gregory

John Gregory

Role on the lost expedition: Officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
BBC news reporters and crews who lost lives

BBC news reporters and crews who lost lives

See Broadcasting House memorial for the names and biographies of these men and women.

Group, Tragedy, TV & Radio

1 memorial
William Askin

William Askin

Crew member of the 'Olga'. Died during the voyage bringing Cleopatra's Needle to London.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Colin Ward

Colin Ward

Colin Ward was born on 6 August 1950 the son of David A. Ward and Louisa C. Ward née Hemingway. His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1950 in the Halifax Registration District, Yorkshire W...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial