Ferguson, John, 1838-1916

John Ferguson was born on 23 January 1837 in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, son of William, a merchant. He was educated at the High School of Glasgow and at Glasgow University from 1855-1864 . His first studies at Glasgow University were in the Arts Faculty, receiving a BA in 1861 and an MA the following year. After this he continued his studies, finishing in the Medical Faculty, the only way he could then study Chemistry. He won a number of prizes at University including the Ewing Gold Medal for his essay'Historical Account of the Papacy as a temporal power in Europe', the Gartmore Gold Medal for'The Advantages & Disadvantages of Federal Government' and he twice won the Watt prize for essays entitled'On Cohesion' and'Electricity & Magnetism from the Middle of the Last Century'.

John Ferguson studied Natural Philosophy under Professor William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, and Chemistry with Professor Thomas Anderson. From finishing his studies in 1864 until 1868 when he was appointed University Assistant with charge of tutorial classes and laboratory supervision, he worked as private assistant to Professor Anderson. In 1869, Professor Anderson was taken seriously ill and John Ferguson undertook the general running of the department until November 1870 when the Professor returned. It was during this time that the University moved from the High Street to Gilmorehill and it was down to Ferguson to plan the new Chemistry Laboratories. Anderson never fully recovered from his illness and when he died in 1874, John Ferguson became his successor.

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