Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Fergusson
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| 6th Governor of New Zealand | |
| In office 14 June 1873 – 3 December 1874 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Premier | Julius Vogel |
| Preceded by | Sir George Bowen |
| Succeeded by | The Marquess of Normanby |
| 8th Governor of South Australia | |
| In office 16 February 1869 – 18 April 1873 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Preceded by | Sir Dominick Daly |
| Succeeded by | Sir Anthony Musgrave |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 March 1832 Edinburgh |
| Died | 14 January 1907 (aged 74) Jamaica |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses |
Lady Edith Broun-Ramsay
(m. 1859; died 1871)Olive Richman
(m. 1873; died 1882)Isabella Twysden
(m. 1893) |
| Children | 5, including Charles |
| Alma mater | University College, Oxford |
Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet (born March 14, 1832 – died January 14, 1907) was an important British soldier and politician. He also worked as a colonial administrator. This means he helped govern countries that were part of the British Empire. He was a member of the Conservative Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
James Fergusson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the oldest son of Sir Charles Fergusson, 5th Baronet. His mother was Helen, daughter of David Boyle.
He went to schools like Cheam and Rugby. He also studied at University College, Oxford, but he left before finishing his degree.
In 1851, he joined the Grenadier Guards, a famous army regiment. He fought in the Crimean War, where he was injured. He left the army in 1859.
Political Career and Governing Roles
Sir James Fergusson became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayrshire. He represented this area in the British Parliament from 1854 to 1857 and again from 1859 to 1868.
He held several important government jobs:
- He was an Under-Secretary of State for India from 1866 to 1867. This role helped manage British India.
- He was an Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department from 1867 to 1868. This role helped with internal affairs in Britain.
- In 1868, he became a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of important advisors to the British monarch.
Governor of South Australia
From 1868, Fergusson served as the Governor of South Australia. This was a key leadership role in the British colony. He left this position in 1872 to prepare for his next role.
Governor of New Zealand
Sir James Fergusson was the Governor of New Zealand from 1873 to 1874. He resigned after a short time and went back to England.
In 1874, he was given a special honour. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.
He also worked on special committees. In 1875, he joined a committee looking into factory laws. In 1877, he was part of a committee studying the sale of alcohol in Scotland.
Governor of Bombay
Later, he became the Governor of Bombay (now Mumbai) in India. He held this important position from 1880 to 1885.
Return to Parliament
After his time as Governor of Bombay, he returned to the House of Commons. He was an MP for Manchester North East from 1885 to 1906.
He held more government jobs during this time:
- He was Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from 1886 to 1891. This role involved managing Britain's relationships with other countries.
- He was the Postmaster General from 1891 to 1892. This meant he was in charge of the postal service.
Family Life
Sir James Fergusson was married three times.
His first wife was Lady Edith Christian. They married in 1859 and had two sons and two daughters. Lady Edith passed away in Australia in 1871 when she was 32 years old. There is a memorial for her in Scotland.
His second wife was Olive Richman. They married in 1873. Olive was from South Australia. They had one son together. Sadly, she died in 1882.
His third wife was Isabella Elizabeth. They married in 1893 and did not have any children.
Interestingly, Sir James Fergusson's son, Charles, and his grandson, Bernard Fergusson, both became Governor-General of New Zealand. This is the highest representative of the British monarch in New Zealand.
Sir James Fergusson died in 1907 during an earthquake in Jamaica. He was 74 years old.
Legacy
Several places are named in honour of Sir James Fergusson:
- The town of Jamestown in South Australia.
- The County of Fergusson in South Australia.
- Fergusson Island in Papua New Guinea.
- Fergusson College in Pune, India.
Images for kids
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The coat of arms associated with the Fergusson family.
