Researching William Massey

Massey was born in County Londonderry in Ireland (now Northern Ireland). After migrating to New Zealand in 1870, Massey farmed near Auckland (earning his later nickname, Farmer Bill) and assumed leadership in farmers' organisations. He entered parliament in 1894 as a conservative, and from 1894 to 1912 was a leader of the conservative opposition to the Liberal ministries of Richard Seddon and Joseph Ward. Massey became the first Reform Party Prime Minister after he led a successful motion of no confidence against the Liberal government. Throughout his political career Massey was known for the particular support he showed for agrarian interests, as well as his opposition to organised labour. He pledged New Zealand's support for Britain during the First World War.

Massey led his Reform Party through four elections, although only the 1919 election was a decisive victory over all other parties. Following increasingly poor health in his fourth term, Massey died in office. After Richard Seddon, he is the second-longest-serving Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Massey was born at Moston Hall, Cheshire, the eldest son of Richard Massey. He was educated at Harrow School and admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge on 7 December 1835. Massey played cricket for Cambridge University in 1837, 1838 and 1839. He also played for Cambridge Town in 1838. In 1839 he stroked the Trinity College crew that won the first Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. He was in the Cambridge boat in the Boat Race in 1840. From 1839 to 1842 he played cricket for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Massey played 19 innings in 13 first-class matches at an average of 4.64 and a top score of 42. He took 6 catches.

Massey was admitted at Lincoln's Inn on 14 January 1841 and was called to the Bar on 3 May 1850. He lived at Cornelyn, Llangoed, Anglesey and was justice of the peace and deputy lieutenant for Anglesey. He was High Sheriff of Anglesey in 1864 and chairman of the Quarter Sessions from 1873 to 1877.

Massey died at Nantwich, Cheshire at the age of 81.

Massey was a middle-order batsman who played cricket for Somerset teams in the years immediately before the county club was granted first-class status in 1882; he also played for other amateur sides, such as the "Gentlemen of Devon" in this period. His sole first-class appearance for Somerset came in 1882, and the following year he made a single first-class appearance for Lancashire, for whom he was qualified by birth. He was not successful in either of his first-class games, his highest score being just 5.

After the mid-1880s, Massey was resident in New York. He played cricket into the mid-1890s for the Staten Island Athletic Club in league and local matches against, for example, the Staten Island Cricket Club.