Charles Brady King and his first vehicle, the first self propelled car in Detroit. Detroit Historical Society
Charles King, born on February 2, 1868, was a notable figure in the early days of the automotive industry. His father, General John King, retired from the army in 1882 and moved the family to Detroit. King went on to study engineering at Cornell University until he returned to Detroit in 1888 following his father's passing. King's involvement in the automotive industry began with his display at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair of his pneumatic hammer and brake beam for railroad cars. While at the fair, King saw Gottlieb Daimler's (who died on this day in 1900) self-propelled carriage, which inspired him to design his own car. On this day in 1896, he test drove that vehicle on Wood...