Percival Perry, 1st Baron Perry

Percival Lea Dewhurst Perry, 1st Baron Perry KBE (18 March 1878 – 17 June 1956) was an English motor vehicle manufacturer who served as chairman of Ford Motor Company Limited in Britain for 20 years from its incorporation in 1928, completing almost a lifetime's work with Henry Ford.

He won a scholarship to King Edward VI's Grammar School, Birmingham which he attended 1889–1894 then joined a solicitor's office but was unable to continue law studies from lack of funds.

In 1904, Aubrey Blakiston established Ford's first British agency, the Central Motor Company, in Long Acre, London.

Cash flow was an issue despite loans from Perry's father-in-law, since Henry Ford insisted on payment up-front when cars for export were loaded at New York harbour.

[2] Perry travelled to Detroit to seek improved credit terms or investment in the company from Henry Ford.

Perry came up with the idea of Ford manufacturing cars outside North America to be sold across the British Empire and Europe.

[1] Perry broke trade unionism imposing job mobility, time wages and direct managerial control over production.

From 1916 to 1919, this experience led to his strong objection to state controls over manufacturing, Perry served without remuneration as: For this unpaid work he was appointed CBE in 1917 and knighted in 1918.

Though frustrated at times by deteriorating economic and political conditions he maintained English control over all European operations superintending factories and assembly plants in Ireland, Denmark, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

In addition to Slough Trading Perry held directorships with National Provincial Bank, The London Assurance and Firestone Tyre and Rubber Company Limited and was briefly an advisor to the Minister of Food in 1939–40.