Collection 99-1005 - Charles Vincent Massey collection

Charles Vincent Massey was born in Toronto on February 20, 1887, grandson to Hart Massey who developed the farm-implement company to an international corporation. He was educated at the University of Toronto and Balliol College, Oxford, England. He was a lecturer at Victoria College, University of Toronto, in history from 1913 to 1915. He joined the army and served as staff officer in Canada and eventually worked for the war committee of the Cabinet. He was President of the Massey-Harris Co. from 1921 to 1925. At this point he joined Prime Minister Mackenzie-King's Cabinet. From 1926 to 1930 he was Canada's first minister to the United States. He became High Commissioner to Britain from 1935 to 1946. After World War II, the Prime Minister placed Vincent Massey in charge of the Royal Commission on the National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences. In his 1951 report he recommended the establishment of the Canada Council which became a reality in 1957. In 1952 Vincent Massey became Canada's first Canadian-born Governor General. He retired in 1959. Charles Vincent Massey died in London, England on December 30, 1967. (Taken from: The Canadian Encyclopedia. Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1985.)