A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Ferguson, John Macpherson
FERGUSON. (Captain, 1817. f-p., 18; h-p., 33.xx)
John Macpherson Ferguson is a younger son of the late celebrated Dr. Adam Ferguson, Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, by Miss Burnet, of Aberdeenshire, niece of Dr. Joseph Black, Chemical Professor in the above institution.
This officer entered the Navy, in Dec. 1796, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Caesar 80, Capts. Chas. Edmund Nugent, Roddam Home, and Sir Jas. Saumarez, employed for three years at the blockade of Brest. He removed as Midshipman, in April, 1800, to La Loire 38, Capt, Jas. Newman Newman; served next, in the Aurora 28, Capt. Micajah Malbon, and Victory 100, bearing the flag of Lord Nelson; and, on 13 Jan. 1804, was confirmed to a Lieutenancy in the Superb 74, Capt. Rich. Goodwin Keats, under whom, after pursuing the combined fleets of France and Spain from the Mediterranean to the West Indies, he assisted in Sir John Duckworth’s action off St. Domingo, 6 Feb. 1806. Being appointed, on 20 Oct. in the latter year, to the Redwing 18, Capt. Thos. Ussher, stationed in the Straits of Gibraltar, Mr. Ferguson, who continued in that vessel for a period of 20 months as her First-Lieutenant, bore a conspicuous part in a multitude of very dashing exploits. On 20 April, 1807, he ably supported Capt. Ussher in a spirited engagement with a division of Spanish gun-boats and several batteries near Cabritta Point; and, on 7 Sept. following, he commanded the boats and displayed much gallantry in an attempt made to destroy several vessels, under a most galling fire from the town of Calassel. The day after the latter event he obtained the highest praise of his Captain for his bravery in boarding a polacre ship whose yard-arms nearly touched the castle of Benidorme, and for his conduct throughout a stiff action which terminated in the destruction, near Jovosa, of three privateers, mounting altogether 20 guns. On 7 May, 1808, he further contributed, by his unsurpassably cool and determined conduct, to the utter defeat of seven armed vessels, carrying in the aggregate 22 guns and 271 men, of whom 240 were killed, drowned, or taken prisoners;[1] subsequently to which he again commanded the boats at the capture and destruction, on 1 June, of a mistico and two feluccas in the Bay of Bolonia, where he also landed with Capt. Ussher, stormed a battery, and blew up the magazine.[2] Being rewarded for these services with a second promotal commission, dated 13 July, 1808, Capt. Ferguson, on 22 Oct. 1810, obtained command of the Pandora 18, which sloop – the captor on 31 Dec. following of Le Chasseur privateer, of 16 guns and 36 men – he had the misfortune to lose on the Skawe reef, off the coast of Jutland, 13 Feb. 1811. In consequence of this misadventure he became a prisoner for some time in the hands of the Danes. His next appointment appears to have been, 27 Aug. 1815, to the Nimrod 18, on the Leith station, where he continued until posted, 1 Jan. 1817. He afterwards commanded the Mersey 26, in South America, from 24 April, 1823, until 1827. His acceptance of the Retirement took place 1 Oct. 1846.
Capt. Ferguson married, 22 March, 1836, Elizabeth Lander, youngest daughter of the late Geo. Guild, Esq., and grand-daughter of the late Dr. Colin Lander, by whom he has issue one son.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1808, p. 735.
- ↑ The total losses ot the Redwing on the occasions we have alluded to amounted to 7 men killed and 31 wounded [errata 1].