Daniel Massey (manufacturer)

Daniel Massey (24 February 1798 – 15 November 1856) was a blacksmith in Newcastle, Ontario, who began production of agricultural implements in 1847.

Massey was born in Windsor, Vermont to Daniel Massey Sr. and Rebecca Kelley. The Masseys later moved to Upper Canada some time between 1802 and 1807. He later lived and studied in Watertown, New York and returned to run his father's business. His business grew and its heir, Massey-Ferguson, is a multinational farm implement manufacturer today. The history goes back to 1847 when Daniel Massey opened a workshop to build simple farm implements in Newcastle Ontario, Canada. A decade later – also in Ontario - Alanson Harris established a foundry to make and repair farm machinery.

Massey and Harris both became pre-eminent in harvesting machinery and eventually the arch rivals merged in 1891. The new company was responsible for producing the world’s first commercially successful self-propelled combine harvester in 1938.

Massey-Harris merged with the Ferguson Company in 1953 and brought together their twin skills in harvesting machinery and tractor design to produce one of the world’s most powerful forces in farm equipment.

His son Hart Massey also joined the family company.

References

• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online