George Fergusson, Lord Hermand

George Fergusson, Lord Hermand FRSE (1743–1827) was a Scottish advocate and judge.[1]

Early life and death

Fergusson was the eighth son of Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran, bart., by his wife Jean Maitland, only child of James, viscount Maitland, and granddaughter of John, fifth earl of Lauderdale. He was admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates on 17 December 1765. He practiced at the bar for thirty-four years with considerable success. On the death of Robert Macqueen of Braxfield, Fergusson was made an ordinary lord of session, and took his seat on the bench as Lord Hermand on 11 July 1799. He was also appointed a lord justiciary on 4 August 1808, in the place of Sir William Nairne of Dunsinnam.[2] He resigned both these offices in 1826, and died at Hermand, in the parish of West Calder, on 9 August 1827, upwards of eighty years of age.

Fergusson was eccentric and a heavy drinker. An etching of Hermand by Kay is in the first volume of ‘Original Portraits’ (No. 156). His portrait also appears along with those of the other judges in the ‘Last Sitting of the Old Court of Session, 11 July 1808’ (vol. ii. No. 300).[3]

Personal life

Fergusson married Graham, daughter of William McDowall of Garthland, who survived him several years. There were no children of the marriage.

References

  1. ↑ Waterston, Charles D; Macmillan Shearer, A (July 2006). Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783-2002: Biographical Index I. Edinburgh: The Royal Society of Edinburgh. ISBN 978-0-902198-84-5. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  2. ↑ Kay, John George Fergusson, Lord Hermand Kay's Originals I CLVI(392) Edinburgh Bookshelf. Retrieved 18 February 2012
  3. ↑ Original old antique victorian print c1790-c1900 LAST SITTING OLD COURT SESSION JULY 1808 Amazon. ASIN B003V4R92Y. Retrieved 18 February 2012

Sources