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[1] – 24 April 1965), was the one-time head of the Rolls-Royce Aero Engine division and chairman of Rolls-Royce Ltd.[2]
Hives was born in Reading, Berkshire to John and Mary Hives, living at 31 Christchurch Road from at least 1891 to 1901.[3][4] 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.