Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 18.djvu/363

 resided until his death, which occurred on 31 July 1887. He occupied his leisure time in botanical and entomological studies, gaining an intimate knowledge of the flora and insect life of the island, and publishing from time to time the results of his observations and researches in the ‘Ceylon Observer’ and the ‘Tropical Agriculturist.’ His work obtained recognition from Dr. Hooker and other eminent biologists. Ferguson also published: 1. ‘The Palmyra Palm, Borassus flabelliformis. A popular Description of the Palm and its Products, having special reference to Ceylon, with a valuable Appendix, embracing extracts from nearly every Author that has noticed the Tree. Illustrated by wood engravings,’ Colombo, 1880, 4to. 2. ‘Correspondence with Sir J. Emerson Tennent on the Botany of Ceylon.’ 3. ‘A Plan of the Summit of Adam's Peak.’ 4. ‘Scripture Botany of Ceylon.’ 5. ‘The Timber Trees of Ceylon.’ 6. ‘The Reptile Fauna of Ceylon.’ 7. ‘Ceylon Ferns.’ He also left materials for a monograph on luminous beetles, including fireflies and glowworms, and a vast mass of miscellaneous notes of a scientific character.

[Athenæum, 1887, ii. 287; Times, 30 Aug. 1887.]  FERGUSON, WILLIAM GOUW (1633?–1690?), painter of still life, a native of Scotland, is stated to have first studied art in his own country, and then travelled in France and Italy. In 1660 he was residing at the Hague, where he hired a house, and in 1668 he was still there. Part of the contract for his house consisted in a promise to paint a picture every year for the proprietor of the house. In 1681 he was residing in the Batavier Graat, Amsterdam, and on 28 June he was betrothed to Sara van Someren of Stockholm (Oud Holland, 1885, p. 143). He acquired a good reputation in painting dead game and still life. There are good examples of his paintings in this style in the Ryks-Museum at Amsterdam and in the Berlin Gallery. He also painted pictures introducing ruins and fragments of sculpture, with figures in the Italian style, under strong effects of light and shade. An example of this style is in the National Gallery of Scotland. He is stated to have returned and to have died in London, but this does not appear certain; 1695 is stated to be the latest date upon his pictures, but this is doubtful, and the exact date of his death is unknown. His pictures are sometimes attributed to Weenix.

[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Bryan's Dict. of Painters and Engravers, ed. Graves; Catalogues of the galleries mentioned above; information from Mr. A. Bredius.]  FERGUSSON, CHARLES DALRYMPLE (1800–1849), fifth baronet, of Kilkerran, Ayrshire, and eldest son of Sir James, fourth baronet, by Jean, daughter of Sir David Dalrymple, bart. (Lord Hailes) [q. v.], was born at Fort George, Inverness-shire, in August 1800. He was educated at Harrow, and became an advocate in 1822, practising at the Scotch bar until his father's death. He was a member of the Speculative Society, and at its meetings read two essays, one on the ‘Origin and Progress of Criminal Jurisprudence,’ and the other on the ‘History of Painting.’ Fergusson was an active promoter of almost every scheme of usefulness throughout Scotland. The county of Ayr, in which his seat was situate, was especially indebted to his active aid in its agricultural, charitable, and religious institutions. He was the originator of the Ayrshire Educational Association, and at his own expense built many schools and churches. He was returned to the general assembly of the church of Scotland as a lay representative for Ayr. He did much towards extending the usefulness and efficiency of the church, and in the sittings of its legislative body his counsels had great weight. A decided conservative in his political principles, both in church and state, Fergusson was yet strongly averse to the strife and turmoil of political life, and was remarkably tolerant in his sentiments. Though repeatedly urged by his friends, he could never be induced to seek election for his native county. To the last he was an able and zealous supporter of the cause of protection. Himself a colonial proprietor, he severely condemned the free trade legislation of Sir Robert Peel, which he believed must have an injurious effect upon the British colonies. In 1837 Fergusson succeeded to the estates of his grandfather, Lord Hailes, in East and Mid Lothian, and in 1838 to those of his father in Ayrshire, on which he constantly resided. Fergusson married Helen, daughter of the Right Hon. David Boyle, lord-justice-general of Scotland, by whom he had eight children. He died at Inveresk 18 March 1849. His Ayrshire tenants raised a monument to his memory. Fergusson's estate of Hailes in Haddingtonshire and Mid Lothian descended to his second son, Charles, who assumed the name of Dalrymple, as representing his great-grandfather, Sir David Dalrymple, bart. (Lord Hailes), but the baronetcy of Hailes was extinct. In the title and estates of Fergusson of Kilkerran Fergusson was succeeded by his eldest son,