Charles Stewart Rolls was born in Berkeley Square, London, on 27 August 1877. His surname would become one half of Rolls-Royce, but his own career extended beyond the company he helped establish.

Rolls had strong connections to his family’s home, The Hendre near Monmouth, and studied mechanical and applied science at Trinity College, Cambridge. He became interested in motor cars when they were still uncommon in Britain. In 1896, aged 18, he travelled to France and bought a Peugeot.

In 1903 he established C. S. Rolls & Co., selling imported Peugeot and Minerva cars. The following year Henry Edmunds arranged a meeting between Rolls and the engineer Henry Royce at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.

Royce had built his own motor car. Rolls recognised its commercial possibilities and agreed to sell cars produced by Royce. An agreement later in 1904 provided for the cars to carry the Rolls-Royce name. Rolls-Royce Limited was formed in 1906.

Rolls was also a balloonist and became increasingly involved in powered flight. In June 1910, he flew across the English Channel to France. He returned to England without landing, becoming the first aviator to complete a non-stop return crossing.

On 12 July 1910, less than six weeks after the Channel flight, Rolls was killed when his aircraft crashed during a flying meeting at Bournemouth. He was 32.