Joseph Lowthian Hudson was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, moved to America as a child, and acquired his educational training in the schools of Newcastle, England, Hamilton, Ontario, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1881 he founded Hudson’s Department Store and in 1909, along with seven other men, including Roy D. Chapin, he cofounded the Hudson Motor Car Company. The goal of the automobile company was to produce an automobile which would sell for less than $1,000. In 1954, the Hudson Motor Car Company merged with Nash to become American Motors.