Oxygen was discovered by Joseph Priestley, in Wiltshire, in 1774, and by Carl Wilhelm Scheele, in Uppsala, a year earlier.

NEWYORKER: In the Air

But day-to-day, Ford is run by an Englishman, Sir Nick Scheele, who made his name turning round Jaguar, Ford's upmarket British subsidiary.

ECONOMIST: A stealthy British coup at the car giant

Lampe says he has communicated with Ford's chief operating officer, Nicholas Scheele.

FORBES: Flats Fixed

Analysts believe there is a growing rift between the president and chief operating officer, Sir Nick Scheele, and his likely successor, the executive vice president David Thursfield.

BBC: Ford's finances under scrutiny