Count Giovanni Agusta (1879–1927) came from family of Sicilian origin. He invented the drogue parachute and formed the Agusta company in 1923 (full name Construzioni Aeronautiche Agusta Spa) which became part of AgustaWestland. He died in 1927. His son, Count Domenico Agusta, followed in the family business, AgustaWestland. The MV Agusta motorcycle manufacturer began as an offshoot of the Agusta aviation company at the end of the Second World War as a means to save the jobs of employees of the Agusta firm.