Harry Ferguson

Full Name: Henry George Ferguson
Profession: Inventor of the Modern Tractor and Aviator

Nationality:

Biography: Henry George "Harry" Ferguson was an Irish mechanic and inventor. He played a pivotal role in the development of the modern agricultural tractor, invented the three-point linkage system, and was the first person in Ireland to build and fly his own aeroplane. He also developed the Ferguson P99, which was the first four-wheel-drive Formula One car.

Ferguson joined his brother Joe's car repair business in 1902. He developed an interest in aviation and motorcycle racing during this time. Inspired by the Wright brothers, Ferguson and his brother built and successfully flew the Ferguson monoplane in 1909, making Harry the first Irishman to fly an aircraft he built himself.

Pursuing his passion for mechanics, Ferguson founded his own company in 1911 to sell cars and tractors. In 1917, he conceived a plough that could be attached to a Model T Ford. His interaction with Charles E. Sorensen from Ford led him to demonstrate early versions of his three-point linkage in the early 1920s. The successful hydraulic version was patented in 1926. By 1936, his Ferguson Model A tractor was introduced, made in a David Brown factory in Yorkshire.

In October 1938, Ferguson's demonstration of his tractor to Henry Ford in Dearborn led to the famous "handshake agreement," and the Ford-Ferguson 9N tractor was released in 1939. Henry Ford II's decision to end the handshake agreement in 1947 led Ferguson to sue Ford, settling for over $9 million in 1952. The same year, with key patents expired, Ferguson's innovations became widely available to other manufacturers. A merger with Massey Harris in 1953 formed the Massey-Harris-Ferguson Co.

Ferguson also worked with the Standard Motor Company and initiated tractor production at the Banner Lane factory in Coventry, with the TE20 rolling out in the autumn of 1946. His US company started producing the TO20 in 1948. Among other developments, Ferguson Research Ltd. designed various cars and tractors, including revolutionary four-wheel-drive systems.

Born: November 4, 1884
Birthplace: Dromore, County Down, Ireland

Generation: Lost Generation
Star Sign: Scorpio

Died: October 25, 1960 (aged 75)
Cause of Death: Barbiturate overdose