James G. Ferrier worked for the accountancy firm, Messrs Whitson and Methuen in Edinburgh. He was appointed honorary secretary to the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, 1902-1904 (leader William Speirs Bruce). This expedition conducted the first oceanographic exploration of the Weddell Sea and discovered Coats Land. Bruce also surveyed Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands where a meteorological station (Omond House) was established on 1 April 1903.
Ferrier organized the reception of the Scotia on its return from the Antarctic in July 1904. In 1909, Bruce through Ferrier and the Scotia committee applied to Lloyd George, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for a grant to publish the scientific findings of the expedition. Although the application was initially turned down, a small grant was given and the seven scientific reports were published.
From the guide to the James Ferrier collection, 1902-1913, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)
