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Nicola Romeo, Founder of Alfa Romeo died this day in 1938.

Born on the 28th April 1876 in Sant' Antimo, Italy, Nicola Romeo went on to gain an engineering degree in Napoli in 1899. In 1905 he married Angelina Valadin, a Portuguese opera singer and pianist. Together they had seven children; Maurizio, Edoardo, Nicholas, Elena, Giulietta, Piera and Irene.

After working abroad for several years and gaining a second electrical engineering degree in Belgium, he returned to Italy and founded his first engineering company, Ing. Nicola Romeo & Co. manufacturing mining equipment, the company soon became successful and in 1915 acquired a majority stake in Milan car company A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili). By 1918 he owned the whole company and it was renamed Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili Romeo. The first car produced carrying the Alfa Romeo name was the Torpedo 20/30hp in 1921. Whilst the company was gaining a good reputation for building elegant cars, following a series of poor investments Nicola was asked to leave the company in 1927 although he served as Chairman until 1928 when he departed the company.

After owning several other engineering companies during his career Nicola Romeo died on 15th August 1938 aged just 62 at his home on Lake Como.

RIP Nicola Romeo, thank you for giving us the Alfa Romeo marque and the passion.