The Lancia family

Vincenzo Lancia was born on 24th August 1881 in Fobello, Val Sesia, Italy.
His father, Cavalier Giuseppe Lancia, had made a fortune in the canned food industry and the family could afford a comfortable lifestyle. They lived in Turin, in a property in Corso Vittorio Emanuele 9, and spent the summer months in the family's villa in Fobello. The present was rosy and he had the future of his four children - Giovanni, Arturo, Maria and Vincenzo, affectionately nicknamed "Censin" - all mapped out. The latter was to become a solicitor.
At school, however, Censin proved to be a disaster. He was bright enough, but easily distracted and lazy. “They boy does not try hard enough”, said his teachers. Eventually, his father reluctantly gave up on the idea of making a solicitor of him. Instead, at the age of twelve, he sent the lad off to boarding school with the hope that he would at least gain a diploma in accounting.