James Ferguson (Scottish politician)

James Ferguson 3rd Laird of Pitfour
A mezzotint portrait of Ferguson by William Ward, after Sir William Beechey, published 1818
Born	(1735-05-25)25 May 1735 Pitfour, Aberdeenshire, Scotland,
Died	6 September 1820(1820-09-06) (aged 85)
Occupation	Advocate and politician

James Ferguson FRSE (25 May 1735 – 6 September 1820) was a Scottish advocate and Tory politician and the third Laird of Pitfour, a large estate in the Buchan area of north east Scotland, which is known as the 'Blenheim of the North'.

Ferguson studied law in Edinburgh, qualifying in 1757 to gain membership of the Faculty of Advocates. He then undertook a tour of Europe throughout 1758 before following in his father's footsteps by joining the Scottish legal profession. Later in life his interests turned to politics and he became a Scottish Tory politician.

Among the extensive work carried out by Ferguson at Pitfour, he is also credited with beginning work on a canal between the Pitfour estate and the sea at Peterhead in order to transport agricultural produce. Despite planning objections from neighbours, work began in 1797. He is also credited with establishing the planned village of Mintlaw in 1813.

James Ferguson was born at Pitfour on 25 May 1735. He was the eldest son of James Ferguson (1700–1777) and Ann Murray (1708–1793). His parents were married on 3 February 1733, and he was born three years later. They had five other, younger children.

Before undertaking a grand tour of Europe during 1758, Ferguson continued the family tradition of studying law in Edinburgh. After qualifying, he gained membership of the Faculty of Advocates and Society of Writers to the Signet in July 1757.

Ferguson spent a great deal of time at Pitfour but also had an apartment in St James Place, Westminster, Middlesex. Ferguson became the third Laird of Pitfour on the death of his father, Lord Pitfour, in 1777.

The Third Laird was a known associate of James Boswell and together with his brother Patrick, who was the designer of the Ferguson rifle, breakfasted with Boswell in November 1762. Other close associates were William Pitt the Younger and Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. He was the Rector at Aberdeen University from 1794-6.