Massey family

The Massey family is a prominent family in Canada (Ontario) and the United States (North Carolina, Virginia and Indiana).
History.
Canada.
The Massey family of Canada was known for manufacturing farm equipment and for being patrons of the arts in Canada. In 1847, Daniel Massey established the "Newcastle Foundry and Machine Manufactory" in what is now Newcastle, Ontario. The enterprise was subsequently renamed as the "Massey Manufacturing Co." and, in 1879, moved to Toronto, Ontario. In 1891, the "Massey Manufacturing Co." merged with "A. Harris, Son and Company" to form "Massey-Harris Limited", which became the largest agricultural equipment maker in the British Empire. "Massey-Harris Limited" eventually became "Massey-Harris-Ferguson" as a result of a 1953 merger between "Massey-Harris Limited" and a British agricultural machinery firm, the "Ferguson Company". The company's name was shortened to "Massey Ferguson" in 1958, which it maintains to this day.
In 1894, Hart Massey built Massey Hall, a concert hall in Toronto, in memory of his late son, Charles Albert Massey (1848–1884), who loved music. Construction was financed by Hart Massey. In 1975, Massey Hall was municipally designated as a historic site under the "Ontario Heritage Act". On 15 June 1981, Massey Hall was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Starting in July 2018, Massey Hall underwent a two-year restoration project to restore and renew both the interior and exterior of the building, improve patron amenities and accessibility, open two new music venues, and enable the return of the building's original stained glass windows from 1894.
In 1918, the Massey family incorporated the Massey Foundation, which was responsible for the construction of many Toronto landmarks and was the first trust of its kind in Canada. In 1919, Vincent Massey, who would be sworn in as Governor General of Canada in 1952, initiated and financed the Hart House, a student activity centre at the University of Toronto and one of the earliest North American student centres. Vincent Massey, who was an alumnus and benefactor of the university, named the Hart House student centre in honour of his grandfather, Hart Massey.
In 1962, the Massey Foundation established, built and partially endowed Massey College, a graduate residential college at the University of Toronto.
United States.
The Massey family of Virginia included Parson John Edward Massey, who was the second Lieutenant Governor of Virginia following the American Civil War. At one point, he co-owned Ash Lawn, the former home of President James Monroe, which was located beside President Thomas Jefferson's Monticello plantation in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The Massey family of North Carolina descended from Thomas Massey, who migrated from Cheshire, England, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1683 on a sloop named "Endeavor".
The Massy and Massey families of the midwest descend from Nicholas Massey (1630–1688), who migrated to Dorchester, Maryland, from the Isle of Ely in England. His second great-grandson is Nicholas Massy/Massey of Iredell, North Carolina.
Legacy.
Buildings in Canada named in honour of members of the Massey family: