Family and Education

b. c.1687, 1st s. of Sir John Fergusson, 1st Bt., of Kilkerran by Jean, da. of James Whitefoord of Dunduff, Ayr, sis. of Sir Adam Whitefoord, 1st Bt. educ. ?Edinburgh; ?Leyden 1709; adv. 1711. m. (contr. 3 and 8 Sept. 1726) Jean, da. and h. of James, Visct. Maitland, gd.-da. of the 16th Earl of Sutherland [S], 9s. 5da. suc. fa. 14 Feb. 1729.

Offices Held

Ld. of session, Lord Kilkerran, 1735-d.; ld. of justiciary 1749-d.

Biography

Fergusson was brought in for Sutherland by the 17th Earl of Sutherland, his wife’s first cousin, at a by-election in February 1734, voting with the Administration on the bill to repeal the Septennial Act a month later. At the ensuing general election that year he defeated Sir William Gordon, whose petition alleged that Fergusson had not been enfeoffed in his qualifying estate within the shire until 27 Nov. 1733, less than the required year before the teste of the writ.1 His appointment to be a lord of session in November 1735 vacated his seat before a hearing of the petition, which was later withdrawn. He died 20 Jan. 1759.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: R. S. Lea

Notes

• 1. CJ, xxii. 339.