Denton Massey
Encyclopedia
Denton Massey was a Canadian
engineer, Anglican
priest and politician.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, the grandson of the founder of the Massey agricultural manufacturing company, Hart Massey
, he attended St. Andrew's College
in Aurora, Ontario
and the University of Toronto, where he became a member of The Kappa Alpha Society
, before attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
where he received a degree in engineering in 1923.
Massey was the founder of the York Bible Class which attracted thousands of young people in the 1920s. His religious programs were broadcast on Toronto radio stations both before and after World War II.
He served in the Canadian House of Commons
as a Conservative
MP
for the Toronto riding of Greenwood
from 1935 to 1949 and was, in 1938, an unsuccessful candidate at the Conservative leadership convention.
Massey joined the Royal Canadian Air Force
in 1940 and reached the rank of Group Captain
. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
for his efforts during the war in 1946.
After leaving politics, Massey became a priest. He served at St. Paul's Anglican Church in Point Edward, Ontario from 1960 to 1963 and the Church of the Holy Saviour in Waterloo, Ontario
from 1963 to 1970.
Massey was a cousin of Canadian Governor General Vincent Massey
and actor Raymond Massey
. He was also a cousin of Canadian philosopher George Grant
and current Liberal MP Michael Ignatieff
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
engineer, Anglican
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
priest and politician.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, the grandson of the founder of the Massey agricultural manufacturing company, Hart Massey
Hart Massey
Hart Almerrin Massey was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist born in Haldimand Township in what was then known as Upper Canada. His parents were Daniel Massey and Lucina Bradley...
, he attended St. Andrew's College
St. Andrew's College (Aurora, Ontario)
St. Andrew's College, also known as SAC, is an independent school founded in 1899 located in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is a university-preparatory school for boys in grades 6 to 12, with a focus on academic achievement, athletics, and leadership development...
in Aurora, Ontario
Aurora, Ontario
Aurora is an affluent town in York Region, approximately 20 km north of Toronto. It is partially situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario.Many Aurora residents commute to Toronto and surrounding communities.In the...
and the University of Toronto, where he became a member of The Kappa Alpha Society
Kappa Alpha Society
The Kappa Alpha Society , founded in 1825, was the progenitor of the modern fraternity system in North America. It was the first of the fraternities which would eventually become known as the Union Triad...
, before attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
where he received a degree in engineering in 1923.
Massey was the founder of the York Bible Class which attracted thousands of young people in the 1920s. His religious programs were broadcast on Toronto radio stations both before and after World War II.
He served in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Toronto riding of Greenwood
Greenwood (electoral district)
Greenwood was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1935 to 1979. It was located in east end of the city of Toronto in the province of Ontario...
from 1935 to 1949 and was, in 1938, an unsuccessful candidate at the Conservative leadership convention.
Massey joined the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
in 1940 and reached the rank of Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for his efforts during the war in 1946.
After leaving politics, Massey became a priest. He served at St. Paul's Anglican Church in Point Edward, Ontario from 1960 to 1963 and the Church of the Holy Saviour in Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
from 1963 to 1970.
Massey was a cousin of Canadian Governor General Vincent Massey
Vincent Massey
Charles Vincent Massey was a Canadian lawyer and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 18th since Canadian Confederation....
and actor Raymond Massey
Raymond Massey
Raymond Hart Massey was a Canadian/American actor.-Early life:Massey was born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Anna , who was born in Illinois, and Chester Daniel Massey, the wealthy owner of the Massey-Ferguson Tractor Company. Massey's family could trace their ancestry back to the American...
. He was also a cousin of Canadian philosopher George Grant
George Grant (philosopher)
George Parkin Grant, OC, FRSC was a Canadian philosopher, teacher and political commentator, whose popular appeal peaked in the late 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for his nationalism, political conservatism, and his views on technology, pacifism, Christian faith, and abortion...
and current Liberal MP Michael Ignatieff
Michael Ignatieff
Michael Grant Ignatieff is a Canadian author, academic and former politician. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Leader of the Official Opposition from 2008 until 2011...
.