The Brough family, founders and owners of Brough Superior Motorcycles, were a prominent English family in the motorcycle industry. The family consisted of several members who played key roles in the design, manufacturing and marketing of Brough Superior motorcycles.
Born in Nottinghamshire, England in 1860, William was a talented engineer and inventor who had a passion for motorcycles. It was William Edward Brough who first made his surname famous in motoring circles. With his company established as W.E. Brough & Co in 1888, he built his first car, a 3 1/2 hp De Dion-powered machine with belt final drive, and by 1902, the first Brough motor-bicycle was built.
William Brough had two sons: William Edward, named after his father in 1885, and George, born in 1890. Both boys grew up in their father's workshop, where they developed an interest in engineering and later joined the family business. However, William did not share his father’s enthusiasm for motorcycles and left to pursue other careers by 1909. Although he returned in 1921, he stayed only until 1923. George, in contrast, developed a deep passion for motorcycles.
George Brough was known for his attention to detail and his desire to create the best motorcycles possible. He was passionate about racing and set several speed records on his Brough Superior motorcycles.