Sir Frank Whittle, O. M., K. B. E.. 1 June 1907–9 August 1996

Sir Frank Whittle has a permanent place in history as the original inventor of the turbo–jet engine, as described in his first patent published in January 1930, when he was only 22 years old. His invention has revolutionized both civil and military air transport all over the world. Frank Whittle, the first child of Moses and Sara Alice Whittle, was born on 1 June 1907, at 72 Newcombe Road in the Earlsdon district of Coventry, and was educated at Earlsdon and Milverton Council schools. He learned much from his father, who, although he was virtually uneducated, having started work in a Lancashire cotton mill at the age of 11, had become a skilful mechanic and was a prolific inventor. Whittle wrote (2)*: