Surgeon. Migrated to Western Australia from Dundee in 1842 with his wife Isabella. Farmed at Brunswick. Appointed Magistrate in Australind in 1844, then Colonial Surgeon in Perth in 1846, a position he held for twenty-five years. Bought "Houghton" in Upper Swan in 1859 and developed vineyards for wine. Under the stewardship of his son Charles, Houghtons became one of the largest wineries in Australia.
From the description of Correspondence of John and Isabella Ferguson [manuscript]. 1842-1905. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 224094826