Mercury, an automobile marque of the Ford Motor Company, was founded in 1939 by Henry Ford's son, Edsel. The goal was to produce entry-level-luxury cars slotted between Ford-branded regular models and Lincoln-branded luxury vehicles. Mercury was its own division at until 1945 when it was moved into the Lincoln-Mercury Division. Ford's hope was that the brand would be known as a "junior Lincoln", rather than an upmarket Ford.