FERGUSSON, SIR JAMES (1832-1907), 6th baronet of Kilkerran, was born in Edinburgh, the eldest son of Sir Charles Dalrymple Fergusson. Educated at Rugby and University College, Oxford, he succeeded to the baronetcy in 1851. He took up his ensigncy in the Grenadier Guards, with which he served throughout the Crimean war, being wounded at Inkermann.

In 1856 Fergusson retired from the army to enter politics, having been elected for Ayrshire while on service. Defeated in 1857, he was again returned in 1859. In 1866 he was Under-secretary for India and later for Home Affairs in the Derby Government. In 1868 he was made a Privy Councillor, and Governor of South Australia, where he assisted in the inauguration of the telegraph system.

On 14 Jun 1873 Fergusson took up the duties of Governor in New Zealand. His term was not marked by any event of importance. Though an energetic and capable politician, he showed the necessary restraint as governor of a self-governing colony in such a period. In 1874 he resigned and, leaving on 3 Dec, he hastened home and contested two elections without success. (K.C.M.G. 1875). In 1880 he was appointed Governor of Bombay. There he did useful administrative work, taking a great interest in native education and in the welfare of the peasantry, for whose benefit mainly he created the first agricultural department.

Returning to England in 1881, Fergusson received the G.C.S.I. and resumed his political career as member for North-East Manchester, which seat he retained until being defeated by the Labour candidate in 1906. He was Under-secretary to the Foreign Office and later Postmaster-general. On retiring from Parliament Fergusson was deputed by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., of which he was a director, to proceed to a conference at Jamaica. On the first day of the conference at Kingston, he was killed in the earthquake (14 Jan 1907). He was a director also of the Caledonian, the London and North Western and the Glasgow and South Western Railway Cos, the P. and O. steamship line and the National Telephone Co.

Fergusson married first (1859) Lady Edith Christian (d. 1871), daughter of the Earl of Dalhousie; second (1873) Olive (d. 1882), daughter of John Henry Richman, of South Australia; and third (1893) Isabella Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev Thomas Twyden and widow of Charles Hugh Hoare. He was succeeded in the title by his eldest son Lieut.-general Sir Charles Fergusson (1865- ), who married Lady Alice, daughter of the 7th Earl of Glasgow (q.v.). He was Governor of New Zealand (1924-30).

D.N.B.; Burke, Peerage; Gisborne; The Times, 17 Jan 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 141

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