Although Harry Ferguson did not actually invent the tractor, he did revolutionise its design in a way that would enhance and improve agriculture the world over.
Born near Hillsborough, Co. Down, Harry discovered a love for mechanics and engineering whilst working at his brother’s motor and bicycle repair business.
He subsequently became the first man in Ireland to design and develop his own aeroplane – a replica of which can be seen at the Ulster Folk and Transport museum. His first flight took place in December 1909.
By 1911, Harry had set up his own garage in Belfast. When, in 1917, the Irish Board of Agriculture approached him on how to improve yield of food production, he turned to the design of machinery.
He saw fault with the large, heavy American tractors that he was selling through his garage, especially how the cumbersome design worked with the plough. Harry built his own plough, light and simple, and coupled it to the tractor in a three point linkage system, making it a single rather than two separate units. The innovation was brilliant and safe. He patented the ‘Ferguson System’ in 1926.
In 1938 Harry sold a tractor design to Henry Ford and by 1947, 300,000 Ford Ferguson tractors had been sold. Unfortunately the partnership ended with a lengthy lawsuit in 1950. Later, Harry merged with Massey-Harris, a Canadian company, to form Massey-Ferguson, who are renowned for selling tractors and other agricultural machinery throughout the world.
