Harry Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Henry George "Harry" Ferguson (4 November 1884 – 25 October 1960) was an Irish
engineer
and inventor who is noted for his role in the development of the modern agricultural tractor, for becoming the first Irishman to build and fly his own aeroplane, and for developing the first four-wheel drive Formula One
car, the Ferguson P99. Today his name lives on in the name of the Massey Ferguson
company.
, the son of a farmer.
In 1902 Ferguson went to work with his brother Joe in his bicycle
and car
repair business. Whilst working there as a mechanic, he developed an interest in aviation
, to the extent of visiting airshow
s abroad. In 1904, he began to race motorcycles.
he had designed and built himself.
, Star and Vauxhall
cars and Overtime Tractors—eventually to be named Harry Ferguson Limited.
Ferguson saw at first hand the weakness of having tractor and plough as separate articulated units, and in 1917 he devised a plough that could be rigidly attached to a Model T Ford car - the Eros, which became a limited success, competing with the Model F Fordson
.
was first seen on his prototype Ferguson 'Black' now in the Science Museum
, Kensington, London. A production version of the 'Black' was introduced in May 1936, made at one of the David Brown factories in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, and designated Ferguson Model A tractor. In 1938 Harry Ferguson's interests were merged with those of David Brown junior
to be called 'Ferguson-Brown Ltd'.
. Ferguson took with him his latest patents covering future improvements to the Ferguson tractor and it is these that led to the Ford-Ferguson 9N introduced to the world on June 29, 1939. It should be noted that the 1938 agreement intended that the Ferguson tractor should also be made in the UK at the Ford factory at Dagenham, Essex
but Henry Ford senior did not have full control at Dagenham and, while his firm did handle US made 9N/2Ns, Dagenham did not make any.
Henry Ford II
, Ford's grandson, ended the handshake deal on 30 June 1947, following unsuccessful negotiations with Ferguson, but continued to produce a tractor, the 8N, incorporating Ferguson's inventions, the patents on almost all of which had not yet expired, and Ferguson was left without a tractor to sell in North America. Ferguson's reaction was a law suit demanding compensation for damage to his business and for Ford's illegal use of his designs. The case was settled out of court in April 1952 for just over $9 million. The court case cost him about half of that and a great deal of stress and ill health.
By 1952 most of the important Ferguson patents had expired, and this allowed Henry Ford II to claim that the case had not restricted Ford's activities too much. It follows, of course, that all the world's other tractor manufacturers could also use Ferguson's inventions, which they duly did. That is the real testimony to Harry Ferguson.
A year later Ferguson merged with Massey Harris to become Massey-Harris-Ferguson Co, later Massey Ferguson
.
to refit their armaments factory at Banner Lane, Coventry. Production of the latest Ferguson tractor, the TE20
, started in the autumn of 1946, over 20,800 TEs being built by the end of 1947.
To fill the gap in Ferguson's sales in the US, thousands of TEs were shipped over from England.
Ferguson's research division went on to develop various cars and tractors, including the first Formula One
four-wheel-drive car. See Ferguson Research Ltd.
commemorating Ferguson is mounted on the Ulster Bank building in Donegall Square, Belfast, the former site of his showroom. A granite memorial has been erected to Ferguson's pioneering flight on the North Promenade, Newcastle
, and a full-scale replica of the Ferguson monoplane and an early Ferguson tractor and plough can be seen at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
at Cultra
.
Ferguson was commemorated in 1981 when he appeared on stamps issued by the Irish Post Office in the Republic of Ireland
. In Northern Ireland
, Ferguson's image appears today on the obverse of £20 sterling notes issued by the Northern Bank
.
In 2008 the Harry Ferguson Memorial gardens were officially opened, opposite the house Harry Ferguson lived in, just outside Dromara, Co. Down. A sculpture of Ferguson, by Whiteabbey-based artist John Sherlock, was erected in the garden, and sees Ferguson leaning on a fence surveying the view. The gardens are open to the public.
The University of Ulster opened the Harry Ferguson Engineering Village (18 February 2004) on the Jordanstown campus in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by him to engineering and innovation in Ireland.
Ferguson died at his home at Stow-on-the Wold in 1960, the result of a barbiturate overdose; the inquest was unable to conclude whether this had been accidental or not.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and inventor who is noted for his role in the development of the modern agricultural tractor, for becoming the first Irishman to build and fly his own aeroplane, and for developing the first four-wheel drive Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
car, the Ferguson P99. Today his name lives on in the name of the Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson Limited was a major agricultural equipment manufacturer which was based in Canada before its purchase by AGCO. The company was formed by a merger between Massey Harris and the Ferguson tractor company in 1953, creating the company Massey Harris Ferguson. However in 1958 the name was...
company.
Biography
Ferguson was born at Growell, near Dromore, County DownDromore, County Down
Dromore is a small market town in the Banbridge District of County Down, Northern Ireland. It is south-west of Belfast, on the A1 Belfast – Dublin road. The 2001 Census recorded a population of 4,968 people....
, the son of a farmer.
In 1902 Ferguson went to work with his brother Joe in his bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
and car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
repair business. Whilst working there as a mechanic, he developed an interest in aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
, to the extent of visiting airshow
Airshow
An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....
s abroad. In 1904, he began to race motorcycles.
Aviation
In 1909 Ferguson became the first person to fly in Ireland, when he took off on 31 December in a monoplaneFerguson monoplane
The Ferguson monoplane was the first all-Irish heavier-than-air craft to fly. The monoplane was designed by Harry Ferguson and built by his brother's company J.B. Ferguson & Company in Belfast.-Development:...
he had designed and built himself.
Agricultural engineering
After falling out with his brother over the safety and future of aviation Ferguson decided to go it alone, and in 1911 founded a company selling MaxwellMaxwell automobile
The Maxwell was a brand of automobiles manufactured in the United States of America from about 1904 to 1925. The present-day successor to the Maxwell company is Chrysler Group.-History:...
, Star and Vauxhall
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
cars and Overtime Tractors—eventually to be named Harry Ferguson Limited.
Ferguson saw at first hand the weakness of having tractor and plough as separate articulated units, and in 1917 he devised a plough that could be rigidly attached to a Model T Ford car - the Eros, which became a limited success, competing with the Model F Fordson
Fordson tractor
Fordson was a brand name used on a range of mass produced general-purpose tractors manufactured by Henry Ford & Son, Inc, from 1917 until 1920 when it was merged into the Ford Motor Company, which used the name until 1964...
.
Hydraulic three-point linkage
After one or two false starts Ferguson eventually founded the Ferguson-Sherman Inc., with Eber and George Sherman. The new enterprise manufactured the Ferguson plough incorporating patented 'Duplex' hitch system mainly intended for the Fordson 'F' tractor. Following several more years of development, Ferguson's new hydraulic system and three point linkageThree-point hitch
The three-point hitch most often refers to the way ploughs and other implements are attached to an agricultural tractor. The three points resemble either a triangle, or the letter A...
was first seen on his prototype Ferguson 'Black' now in the Science Museum
Science Museum (London)
The Science Museum is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is a major London tourist attraction....
, Kensington, London. A production version of the 'Black' was introduced in May 1936, made at one of the David Brown factories in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, and designated Ferguson Model A tractor. In 1938 Harry Ferguson's interests were merged with those of David Brown junior
David Brown (entrepreneur)
Sir David Brown was an English entrepreneur, managing director of his family firm David Brown Limited and one time owner of shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft and automobile manufacturer Aston Martin....
to be called 'Ferguson-Brown Ltd'.
Henry Ford
In October 1938 Harry Ferguson made the famous 'handshake agreement' with Henry Ford SeniorHenry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
. Ferguson took with him his latest patents covering future improvements to the Ferguson tractor and it is these that led to the Ford-Ferguson 9N introduced to the world on June 29, 1939. It should be noted that the 1938 agreement intended that the Ferguson tractor should also be made in the UK at the Ford factory at Dagenham, Essex
Ford of Britain
Ford of Britain is a British wholly owned subsidiary of Ford of Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Its business started in 1909 and has its registered office in Brentwood, Essex...
but Henry Ford senior did not have full control at Dagenham and, while his firm did handle US made 9N/2Ns, Dagenham did not make any.
Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II , commonly known as "HF2" and "Hank the Deuce", was the son of Edsel Ford and grandson of Henry Ford...
, Ford's grandson, ended the handshake deal on 30 June 1947, following unsuccessful negotiations with Ferguson, but continued to produce a tractor, the 8N, incorporating Ferguson's inventions, the patents on almost all of which had not yet expired, and Ferguson was left without a tractor to sell in North America. Ferguson's reaction was a law suit demanding compensation for damage to his business and for Ford's illegal use of his designs. The case was settled out of court in April 1952 for just over $9 million. The court case cost him about half of that and a great deal of stress and ill health.
By 1952 most of the important Ferguson patents had expired, and this allowed Henry Ford II to claim that the case had not restricted Ford's activities too much. It follows, of course, that all the world's other tractor manufacturers could also use Ferguson's inventions, which they duly did. That is the real testimony to Harry Ferguson.
A year later Ferguson merged with Massey Harris to become Massey-Harris-Ferguson Co, later Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson Limited was a major agricultural equipment manufacturer which was based in Canada before its purchase by AGCO. The company was formed by a merger between Massey Harris and the Ferguson tractor company in 1953, creating the company Massey Harris Ferguson. However in 1958 the name was...
.
Standard Motor Company
As a consequence of Dagenham's failure to make the tractors, Harry Ferguson made a deal with Sir John Black of the Standard Motor CompanyStandard Motor Company
The Standard Motor Company was founded in Coventry, England in 1903 by Reginald Walter Maudslay . The Standard name was last used in Britain in 1963, and in India in 1987.-1903–1914:...
to refit their armaments factory at Banner Lane, Coventry. Production of the latest Ferguson tractor, the TE20
Ferguson TE20
The Ferguson Model TE20 was a British agricultural tractor. It was Harry Ferguson's most successful design, commonly known as the Little Grey Fergie. It was manufactured from 1946 to 1956...
, started in the autumn of 1946, over 20,800 TEs being built by the end of 1947.
To fill the gap in Ferguson's sales in the US, thousands of TEs were shipped over from England.
Harry Ferguson Inc
Production of a US version, the TO20, started at a new plant, owned by Harry Ferguson Inc, in October 1948, leaving the UK plant to supply the rest of the world.Ferguson's research division went on to develop various cars and tractors, including the first Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
four-wheel-drive car. See Ferguson Research Ltd.
Ferguson Research Ltd.
Harry Ferguson Research Limited was a British company founded by Harry Ferguson who was mostly known as "the father of the modern farm tractor"...
Memorials and recognition
A blue plaqueBlue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
commemorating Ferguson is mounted on the Ulster Bank building in Donegall Square, Belfast, the former site of his showroom. A granite memorial has been erected to Ferguson's pioneering flight on the North Promenade, Newcastle
Newcastle, County Down
Newcastle is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 7,444 people recorded in the 2001 Census. The seaside resort lies on the Irish Sea coast at the base of Slieve Donard, one of the Mourne Mountains, and is known for its sandy beach and the Royal County Down Golf Club...
, and a full-scale replica of the Ferguson monoplane and an early Ferguson tractor and plough can be seen at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum is situated in Cultra, Northern Ireland, about east of the city of Belfast. It comprises two separate museums, the Folk Museum and the Transport Museum...
at Cultra
Cultra
Cultra is a residential suburban area adjacent to Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, part of Greater Belfast. It is also the name of an electoral ward of North Down Borough Council. It is comfortably one of Northern Ireland's most affluent areas...
.
Ferguson was commemorated in 1981 when he appeared on stamps issued by the Irish Post Office in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. In Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, Ferguson's image appears today on the obverse of £20 sterling notes issued by the Northern Bank
Northern Bank
Northern Bank , is a commercial bank in Northern Ireland. It is one of the oldest banks in Ireland having been formed in 1809. Northern Bank is considered one of the leading retail banks in Northern Ireland with 82 branches and four finance centres...
.
In 2008 the Harry Ferguson Memorial gardens were officially opened, opposite the house Harry Ferguson lived in, just outside Dromara, Co. Down. A sculpture of Ferguson, by Whiteabbey-based artist John Sherlock, was erected in the garden, and sees Ferguson leaning on a fence surveying the view. The gardens are open to the public.
The University of Ulster opened the Harry Ferguson Engineering Village (18 February 2004) on the Jordanstown campus in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by him to engineering and innovation in Ireland.
Ferguson died at his home at Stow-on-the Wold in 1960, the result of a barbiturate overdose; the inquest was unable to conclude whether this had been accidental or not.
See also
- Ferguson CompanyFerguson CompanyIn about 1934, in company with David Brown, Harry Ferguson formed the Ferguson-Brown Company and the two men produced the Model A Ferguson-Brown tractor with a Ferguson-designed hydraulic hitch...
- Ferguson Research Ltd.Ferguson Research Ltd.Harry Ferguson Research Limited was a British company founded by Harry Ferguson who was mostly known as "the father of the modern farm tractor"...
- List of people on stamps of Ireland
- Massey-Ferguson
External links
- Official Harry Ferguson Memorial site
- Massey Ferguson Tractor and Combine site
- The Harry Ferguson Engineering Village at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown, N.Ireland