Canadian statesman, diplomat, and governor-general, born in Toronto, Ontario, SE Canada, the brother of Raymond Massey. He joined the Liberal Cabinet after World War 1, and became Canada's first minister in Washington (192630), high commissioner to Britain (193546), and Governor-General of Canada (19529).
Hon.Charles Vincent Massey
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| 18th Governor General of Canada | |
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In office February 28, 1952 – September 15, 1959 |
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| Preceded by | Viscount Alexander |
| Succeeded by | Georges Vanier |
| Born |
February 20, 1887 Toronto, Ontario |
| Died |
December 30, 1967 |
| Spouse | Alice Massey |
| Profession | Diplomat |
| Religion | Methodist/United |
Charles Vincent Massey, CH, CC, PC (February 20, 1887 – December 30, 1967) was the eighteenth Governor General of Canada and the first who was born in Canada.
Background
Vincent Massey was the son of Chester D. His family was strongly Methodist and played an important role in supporting local religious, cultural and educational institutions, including Victoria College at the University of Toronto where Massey was sent for his university education, Massey College, also at the University of Toronto, Massey Hall, a concert hall in Toronto endowed by the Masseys and Metropolitan Methodist Church (now Metropolitan United Church).
Massey then continued his education at Balliol College, Oxford.
Before beginning his career in diplomacy, Vincent Massey spent four years as president of the business his father had founded. He also began compiling one of Canada's great art collections and through the Massey Foundation, was the principal influence on the construction of Massey College at the University of Toronto, to which his protegé Robertson Davies was appointed as first Master.
Political career
Massey was appointed Minister without portfolio to the Cabinet of Liberal Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King in September 1925.
Diplomatic career
In 1926, King appointed Massey the first Canadian envoy to the United States of America with the rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Washington.
While in London, Massey travelled in the same circles as Lord Astor and his wife Nancy and their largely aristocratic anti-Semitic and pro-German Cliveden set. According to Irving Abella and Harold Troper's book None is Too Many: Canada and the Jews of Europe 1933-1948, Massey was an enthusiastic supporter of the Munich Agreement and worked with Ernest Lapointe to put obstacles in the way of Jewish refugees attempting to immigrate to Canada.
Nevertheless, Massey was a Canadian and British patriot and worked to maximize Canada's war effort once World War II broke out.
Return to Canada
In 1949, Massey was appointed chairman of the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences. The ensuing report issued in 1951, known as the Massey Report, led to the creation of the National Library of Canada and the Canada Council.
Governor General
With his appointment as Governor General in 1952, a new tradition began – he was the first Canadian appointed to the post, and from that day the Governor General has always been a Canadian citizen.
Vincent Massey believed that the Crown belonged to Canadians, and as the Sovereign's representative his job was to strengthen that bond.
Massey's speeches often praised Canada's cultural diversity, and he emphasized the need to learn both English and French and spoke to diverse groups such as the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Blood First Nation in Alberta, and fishing villages in the Maritimes.
Encouraging the arts was one of Massey's noteworthy achievements.
However, Massey was careful not to concentrate exclusively on any one area – he encouraged excellence in every field. He established the Governor General's Gold Medal for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1954, and the Massey Medal to recognize national exploration, development, and description of geography for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 1959. Canada was developing a new confidence through its accomplishments in science, business and the arts, and Vincent Massey helped foster this positive identity.
Massey revived the use of the State carriage in 1953 when it was used in Ottawa for the coronation celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II.
Massey conferred new regimental colours on the Governor General's Foot Guards, and presented a regimental mascot to the Royal 22 Regiment at La Citadelle in Québec, a well-behaved goat of Persian ancestry from the Royal herd called "Baptiste".
Vincent Massey's term as Governor General was extended twice, first by Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, and then by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker before he left office on September 15, 1959.
Later life
After his term as Governor General, he retired to Batterwood, his home near Port Hope, Ontario, and he continued to chair the Massey Foundation, as he had done since 1926.
In 1961, the Massey Lectures were created to honour Vincent Massey, in recognition of his energetic support for the humanities in Canada. The Massey Lectures allow a noted scholar or public figure to give a talk on a subject of his or her choice, and are considered by many to be the most important public lecture series in Canada.
Vincent Massey also received another honour from the Queen.
Vincent Massey died while visiting England on 30 December 1967, and was given a state funeral in Canada in early January.
His younger brother was the actor Raymond Massey.
Adapted from http://www.gg.ca
Vincent Massey can be heard on film, reading the prologue to Forty-Ninth Parallel which starred his brother Raymond and was set in Canada.
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