Which four men founded Harley-Davidson in Milwaukee in 1903?

Harley-Davidson was founded in 1903 by William S. Harley and brothers William A. Davidson, Arthur Davidson, and Walter Davidson.

William Harley designed the first small engine, while the Davidson brothers helped build and organize the motorcycle business. Their earliest work took place in a small wooden shed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before the company expanded into larger factories.

The surname Harley appears in the company name because Harley was the engineer and co-founder, not because he was related to the Davidson family. Arthur Davidson later became the company’s first president, and Walter Davidson served as an important early executive.

Harley-Davidson’s first motorcycle was completed in 1903. The company incorporated in 1907, when its familiar corporate identity began to take more formal shape.