In this episode we honour the 64th anniversary of the untimely passing of Henry (Harry) George Ferguson on October 25, 1960. Here at Ireland Made – Stories of Irish Transport, we consider him to be Ireland’s greatest engineer and inventor, his work truly transformed the world and his legacy is still recognised today. Harry Ferguson raced motorcycles, revolutionised the modern tractor, became the first person in Ireland and Britain to build and fly his own plane, invented the Ferguson Formula 4×4, and built his own cars.
He was a unique blend of engineer, entrepreneur, and master of publicity. In one of the most famous publicity stunts of the 1940s, he famously drove a tractor around the ballroom of Claridge’s Hotel during a grand cocktail party he hosted to boost export sales.
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EARLY LIFE
Born Henry George Ferguson in 1884 in Dromore, Co Down, he was known as Harry. Despite the Ferguson’s being a wealthy family he left school at 14 to work on the family.
ENGINEERING & AVIATION PIONEER
Harry Ferguson’s passion for engineering became evident after he left school to work in his brother’s garage in Belfast. While gaining hands-on experience, he also attended night school to deepen his technical knowledge. His talent and entrepreneurial spirit soon led him to establish his own garage business. His daring personality garnered publicity as he became a first-class motor racing driver, earning the nickname “the mad mechanic.”
Inspired by Louis Bleriot’s historic 1909 flight across the English Channel, Ferguson pursued aviation. In 1909, at the age of 24, he built and successfully flew his own plane, becoming the first person in Ireland or Britain to achieve this feat.
MECHANISING AGRICULTURE
Despite his engineering success, Ferguson was determined to solve the challenges of farming, disliking the manual labour it required. He focused on mechanizing farming and improving ploughing techniques, which led him to innovate more modern, efficient systems. By World War I, Ferguson was recognized as a leading businessman. His expertise earned him a government role assessing the efficiency of farm machinery and tractors in Ireland to ensure stable food production.
In the late 1920s, Ferguson developed his first tractor model, the Ferguson Black, which incorporated his revolutionary three-point linkage system. This innovation transformed tractor safety and efficiency.
FERGUSON BROWN & FORD PARTNERSHIP
In 1936, Ferguson’s first production tractor, the Ferguson Brown, was built in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. Two years later, he struck a gentleman’s agreement with Henry Ford in the U.S. to produce Ferguson tractors under the Ford brand. These tractors, known as the 9N and 2N models, became immensely successful.
However, after Henry Ford’s retirement following World War II, the new management under Ford’s son cancelled the agreement. In 1947, Ferguson found himself without a manufacturing partner as the Ford company ceased building tractors for him.
TO-20 PRODUCTION & BATTLING FORD
In response, Ferguson established his own production line in Detroit, Michigan, where he began manufacturing the TO-20 tractor in 1948. The loss of the Ford partnership led to a prolonged legal battle, where Ferguson sued Ford for breaching their handshake agreement. Though he won the case in 1952, the settlement of $9.25 million was significantly less than Ferguson had sought.
TE-20 & MASSEY-HARRIS MERGER
Ferguson returned to the UK in 1946, choosing Banner Lane in Coventry as the centre of production for his next major success, the TE-20 tractor. This iconic model, affectionately dubbed the “little grey Fergie,” revolutionized farming worldwide, helping small farmers increase productivity with affordable, efficient machinery.
In 1953, Ferguson sold his global interests to Massey Harris, resulting in the creation of Massey-Ferguson, one of the most renowned names in agricultural machinery. However, in 1954 internal disagreements with the newly formed Massey-Harris-Ferguson (M-H-F) company led to his retirement after they refused to produce his secretly designed TE-60 tractor.
Ferguson’s commitment to innovation continued when in 1958 he supplied three TE-20 tractors for Sir Edmund Hillary’s first mechanised journey to the South Pole.
UNTIMELY DEATH
While on holiday in Jamaica in 1957, Harry Ferguson was shot in the leg by a burglar. This incident led to a decline in his health, resulting in depression and insomnia. He passed away on October 25, 1960, at his home in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, and was found to have taken an overdose of barbiturates. The jury at the inquest returned an open verdict, as it was unclear whether his death was accidental or a suicide.
HONOURS
During his lifetime Harry Ferguson was honoured including hon. D.Sc. degrees from Queens University Belfast and Louvain, an hon. engineering degree from the University of Dublin, and fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts.
In his native Ulster; blue plaques mark his birthplace, his business premises, and the site of his flights; there is a memorial garden at his birthplace, and the University of Ulster’s Engineering Village at Jordanstown is named in his honour.
From August 2024 the Ferguson ‘Black Tractor’ and plough, the prototypes to what became the revolutionary TE20 were put on display at the Ulster Transport Museum in Cultra.
Harry Ferguson was also honoured in 1981 with stamps issued by An Post, and in Northern Ireland, Danske Bank featured his portrait and a Ferguson tractor on its £20 sterling notes.
LEGACY
The Ireland Made team has narrowed down Harry Ferguson’s many inventions and achievements to a list of our favourites:
- The Ferguson System: A ploughing system allowing a tractor to be operated by one person, featuring a three-point linkage for easier attachment of implements.
- Ferguson TE20 Tractor: The first tractor to use the Ferguson System, produced from 1946 to 1956, known for its simplicity and reliability.
- Ferguson-Brown Company: Co-founded with David Brown in 1936 to manufacture Ferguson System tractors; later became Massey Ferguson.
- Ferguson-Sherman Gearbox: A four-speed gearbox with a two-speed rear axle, offering multiple speed options for Ferguson tractors.
- Ferguson System Plow: Designed for better soil penetration and efficient ploughing with Ferguson System tractors.
- Ferguson System Cultivator: Optimised for more efficient soil cultivation.
- Ferguson System Harrow: Designed for efficient harrowing with Ferguson tractors.
- Ferguson System Drill: Improved seed planting efficiency when used with Ferguson tractors.
Harry Ferguson further contributed to agriculture by developing systems for measuring crop weight and soil density and in 1961 his P99 racing car, became the first four-wheel-drive car to win a Grand Prix.
Henry (Harry) George Ferguson is firmly established in history as Ireland’s greatest engineer and inventor. His innovative engineering designs and ability to produce them affordably transformed the global farming and automotive industries.
In 2008, the Harry Ferguson Memorial Gardens were officially opened across from the house where he lived, just outside Dromara, County Down. The gardens feature a life-size bronze sculpture depicting Ferguson leaning on a fence and overlooking the fields.
In the immortal words of Harry Ferguson (1884 – 1960) “Always the best and only the best”.
Ireland Made – stories of Irish transport has celebrated the work of Ireland’s greatest engineer and inventor with a number of our video stories:
Restoring a 1963 Ferguson TE 20 | Season 1 – Episode 8
Ferguson stacked tractors as art? | Season 1 – Episode 23
Harry Ferguson P99 – first 4×4 F1 car to win a race | Season 1 – Episode 64
OUR FEATURED VIDEO: People from Ireland and developing countries love Massey Ferguson 100 series tractors | Season 2 – Episode 84
The launch of the 100 Series tractors in the mid-1960s had a significant impact, becoming popular in developing countries and still sought after at auctions in Britain and Ireland.
These tractors were crucial for MF to compete against new models from Ford, David Brown, and Nuffield. The MF 135, built in Coventry, featured a simple design with a 45-horsepower three-cylinder Perkins diesel engine and a straightforward six-forward, two-reverse speed gearbox. It offered a contemporary look and lightweight cab, making it ideal for Ireland’s boggy terrain.
MF 135 Specifications:
- Engine: 3-cylinder 2.5L Perkins diesel
- Power: 45 HP
- Drive: Two-wheel drive
- Gearbox: 6 forward and 2 reverse speeds
The BBC praised MF tractors during a 2016 auction, noting the simplicity and reliability of the 135, which is famous for its durability. A Sri Lankan buyer exported over 100 MF tractors annually from 1993 to 2003, and a Kenyan buyer highlighted the transformative impact of good tractors in villages.
The featured MF 135 is a fully restored 1968 model registered in Monaghan, seen in Cork. Over its production run until 1975, 413,153 units were made, and it remains popular on the second-hand market and at vintage shows. Many enthusiasts restore MF 135s, supported by the availability of new parts from specialist suppliers. They are frequently seen in road runs, shows, and ploughing competitions across Ireland.
In 1965 you could plough a road with a Ferguson | Season 2 – Episode 85
Irish Mad Mechanic Harry Ferguson takes to the air 1909 | Season 2 – Episode 96
Harry Ferguson Mastered Tractors, but Couldn’t Tame Cars 1950 – ’80 | Season 3 – Episode 76
John Campbell shares the history of his Massey Ferguson 135 | Season 4 – Episode 40
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Sources of Information and Photo Credits:
50 years of the Ferguson 20 Tractor – Stevan Patterson
Harry Ferguson, Inventor and Pioneer – Colin Fraser
Photograph John Hurrell
The Big Book of Massey Tractors – Robert Pripps
The Dictionary of Irish Biography
The Irish Times
If you have an idea for a story, email Kevin Reid [email protected]
