Massey, Vincent

Massey, Vincent, 1887–1967, Canadian statesman, b. Toronto; brother of actor Raymond Massey. After a brief career as a professor he served (1918–19) as a government official before joining his family's farm machinery company, of which he was (1921–25) president. A Liberal party supporter, he served as Canada's first minister to the United States (1926–30) and as high commissioner in England (1936–46). He was (1947–52) chancellor of the Univ. of Toronto and then served (1952–59) as governor-general of Canada; he was the first native-born Canadian to hold the post.

Bibliography

See his memoirs (1963).

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Massey, (Charles) Vincent

(born Feb. 20, 1887, Toronto, Ont., Can.—died Dec. 30, 1967, London, Eng.) Canadian administrator, first Canadian governor-general of Canada (1952–59). He taught history at the University of Toronto from 1913 to 1915. During World War I he served as associate secretary of the cabinet war committee. After the war he operated a farm-machinery business until 1925. Active in Liberal Party politics, he served in the cabinet of W.L. Mackenzie King (1925) and was later Canada's first minister to the U.S. (1926–30) and high commissioner for Canada in Britain (1935–46). After serving as chancellor of the University of Toronto (1947–52), he was named governor-general. His brother was the actor Raymond Massey (1896–1983).