Ford, Henry (1863-1947), American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor
Company.
Henry Ford was born on 30 July 1863 near Detroit. His father, William, was born in
Ireland and his mother, Mary, was born in Michigan. There were five children in the
family of William and Mary: Henry, Margaret, Robert, William and Jane.
In 1876 Henry’s mother died and he felt low. His father wanted him to go round
the farm but Henry abhorred farm work. Three years later Henry Ford began to work as
an apprentice machinist in Detroit. In 1882 he arrived in Dearborn and began to work for
Westinghouse company where he maintained steam engines.
In 1888 Ford married Clara Ala Bryant. They had their only son: Edsel Ford.
Career
Three years after marriage Henry became an engineer in the Edison Illuminating Company. In 1893 he
became Chief Engineer. Since then Henry Ford started to work on gasoline engine. Consequently in 1896 he
developed a self-propelled vehicle which was called the Ford Quadricycle. Afterwards Ford created different
improvements for his invention.
In 1896 Henry Ford made the acquaintance of Thomas Edison who endorsed the experiments of Ford.
With the assistance of Edison Henry Ford created a new vehicle in 1898. Later he left his job and established
the Detroit Automobile Company in 1899. But Henry Ford was not satisfied because the vehicles produced
there were of a lower quality and expensive. Eventually the enterprise was not successful and it was abolished
in 1901.
Ten months later encouraged by C. Harold Wills Henry Ford developed a 26-horsepower automobile
which was successfully tested. As a result stockholders of the Detroit Automobile Company founded the Henry
Ford Company in 1901 where Henry Ford was a chief engineer. In 1902 he left the company because a new
consultant was hired there. Afterwards the company was renamed. It was called the Cadillac Automobile
Company.
Cooperating with Tom Cooper, who was a racing cyclist, Henry Ford created the 80+ horsepower racer
“999”. Consequently Henry established contact with his old friend Alexander Y. Malcomson with whom he
founded a company “Ford & Malcomson, Ltd.” to produce automobiles.
In 1908 Henry Ford designed a new automobile called Model T. The vehicle was inexpensive and
simple to drive. Moreover the steering wheel was on the left. This car was a great success.
In 1926 Henry Ford decided to create a new model because the sales of Model T were slow. He worked
on technical improvements and his son designed the body. This model was introduced in 1927. As the Model T,
Model A was a great success.
From 1918 to 1943 his son, Edsel, was a president of Ford Motor Company. In 1943 he died of cancer
and his father became a president again but his health left much to be desired. Henry Ford was a president of
Ford Motor Company until the end of war.
Death
Henry Ford died in 1947 at the age of 83. He was interred in the Ford Cemetery in Detroit. Ford left a
personal fortune estimated at $500 to $700 million.
Exercise 1. Fill in the letters and read the words.
C_smon_ut, wa_ri_r, pol_ti_ian, c_mpos_ _, sp_rt_man, mus_cian, s_ _enti_t, pla_ _ri_ _t, acti_ns, id_as,
co_rag_, d_ _ds, hard work, ac_i_vem_nts.
Exercise 2. Put the letter in the right order to have a word.
idprsente______ arw_______ cypoman_______ marf ________ rkwo_______
tecear________ liganeso_______ gennei_________ smtea_______ vecslehi______
demol______ ridve________ hlthea_______ lionmil________ Fdor ________
Exercise 3. Make up your own sentences using these words and word-combinations.
* was born, a chief engineer, the enterprise, to creat, the company, made the acquaintance.
Exercise 4. Restore the original sentences
1. Henry, industrialist, American, an, was, ______________________________________________________
2. he, one, married, had, son. was, and, ________________________________________________________
3. in, he, a vehicle, was, the Ford Quadricycle, developed, which, called, 1896, ________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
4. 1899 , he, the, Company, in, established, Automobile, Detroit, ____________________________________
5. In, automobile, Henry Ford, a, Model T, new, 1908, designed, called, _______________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Ford, the sales, created, model, because, of Model T, were, a new, slow, _____________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 5. Match the column A with the column B.
| 1. American 2. successfully 3. establish 4. to produce 5. died of 6. a chief 7. technical 8. steam 9. the steering 10. a great | a) improvements b) wheel c) success d) engines e) tested f) contact with g) automobiles h) cancer i) engineer j) industrialist |
Exercise 6. Put the sentences into the right order according to the text.
1. When he was 16, he went to Detroit to work in a machine shop.
2. He started the Ford Foundation that supported different programmes in education and culture.
3. In 1903, when he was 40, he started the Ford Motor Company.
4. He was born in 1863.
5. The company made the model T Ford in 1908.
6. In 1896 he built his first automobile.
Exercise 7. Correct the mistakes in the text.
He came from rich family. He was born in 1896. He lived in Detroit. When he was a boy, he was glad to
live on the farm. When he was 26, he went to Paris to work in a food shop. He started the Ford Foundation that
supported different programmes in shipbuilding. In 1903, when he was 71, he started the Toyota Motor
Company. The company made the model T Ford in 1910. In 1896 he built his first ship.
Exercise 8. Answer the questions.
1. When was he born? __________________________________________________________________
2. Who were his parents? ________________________________________________________________
3. What was he famous for? ______________________________________________________________
4. When did he created his first car? _______________________________________________________
5. What was desined in 1908? ____________________________________________________________
6. What kind of car was Model T? ________________________________________________________
7. What do you know about Ford`s personal life? ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
