James Fergusson FRSE (1904 - 1973)

Born 18 Sep 1904 in Dailly, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

James Fergusson FRSE is a member of Clan Fergusson.

James Fergusson FRSE is Notable.

Birth

Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran, 8th Bt. was born on 18 September 1904 in Dailly, Ayrshire. He was the son of General Sir Charles Fergusson of Kilkerran, 7th Bt. and Lady Alice Mary Boyle. His younger brother was Bernard Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae.

Education

He was sent to Eton College then went to Balliol College, Oxford. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) by Glasgow University, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1900

Marriage

He married Louise Frances Balfour Stratford Dugdale, daughter of Edgar Trevelyan Stratford Dugdale and Blanche Elizabeth Balfour, on 17 July 1930.

General Career

He initially worked as a writer for Blackwood’s Magazine in Edinburgh. From between 1934 and 1940 he was with BBC Scotland as assistant to the Scottish Regional Director, Melville Dinwiddie and as a talks producer. From 1940 to 1944, he was with the BBC Overseas Service between 1940 and 1944. He also was a town councillor for Haddington, East Lothian. In the Second World War he resisted a transfer to Glasgow and instead joined the BBC Home Service, giving commentary on Nazi propaganda and making a tour of the Middle East.

He was a journalist with the Glasgow Herald, after the war he became one of their lead-writers from 1945 to 1949. From 1947 to 1968 he also appeared on the popular long-running radio show "Round Britain Quiz" with Jack House.

From 1949 he was made the official Keeper of Records of Scotland based at Register House on Princes Street in Edinburgh. He remained in the post until 1969, during which period the scale and function of the records office greatly increased. He was admitted to the Royal Company of Archers.

After his departure the expansion included the conversion of St George’s Church on Charlotte Square to create West Register House. He was a Trustee of the National Gallery of Scotland, Member of the Royal Commission on Historic Manuscripts, and Trustee of the National Trust for Scotland.

Honours, Offices and Titles

He succeeded as the 8th Baronet Fergusson, of Kilkerran [N.S., 1703] on 20 February 1951.

He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire between 1969 and 1973.

He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.)

In 1968 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE). His proposers were Neil Campbell, Lord Balerno, Edmund Hirst, and Anthony Elliot Ritchie.

Author

He was a bookseller and publisher. He wrote the book The Curragh Incident, published 1969. He wrote the book The Man Behind Macbeth, published 1969.He wrote the book The Declaration of Arbroath, published 1970.

Death

He died on 25 October 1973 at age 69.

Burial

He was buried in the family graveyard at Kilkerran.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Sir James Fergusson, 8th Baronet

• Wikidata: Item Q18671542, en:Wikipedia

• http://thepeerage.com/p39187.htm#i391862