| THE LATE MR J . FERGUSON |
| Shipbuilder and Yachtsman |
| The death has occurred in London of Mr John Ferguson, co-founder
of the Leith shipbuilding firm of Ramage & Ferguson, which built- many
steamers and famous yachts. Mr Ferguson, who was in his eighty-third year, had
been for many years Commodore of " the Koyal Forth Yacht Club, and was a well
known figure among yachtsmen both in Scotland and England. |
| Born in Glasgow Mr Ferguson served his apprenticeship with
Barclay Curie & Co. on the Clyde, of which firm his father was a member.
From there he went for some time to the yard of Denny Brothers, Dumbarton, and
then at the beginning of the year 1877, along with the late Mr Richard Ramage,
founded the firm of Ramage & Ferguson, which after a very honourable record
in shipbuilding, went into voluntary liquidation at the beginning of this year.
Among the more notable vessels built by the company there was the King of Siams
yacht, Maha Chakrkri, completed in 1892 and the famous yacht
Valhallabuilt for Sir Joseph Laycock and afterwards owned by, among
others, the Earl of Crawford. The firm built a few sailing yachts, but a much
larger number of steam yachts. They built a large number of steamers for James
Currie & Co.and a number for the Ellerman Lines, and they also built a
great many sailing ships. |
| Mr Ferguson throughout his whole active life was devoted to the
sea not only as a builder of ships and yachts, but as a yachtsman. Since Lord
Rosebery's death he had been Commodore of the Royal Forth Yacht Club and was
also a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club and the Royal Eastern Club. He was
an enthusiastic member of any club with which he was associated, and owned and
sailed a succession of boats. One of his most early acquaintanceships with the
sea and its ways was when, as a young man, he built a canoe and went in it
across to the Hebrides. |
| Mr Ferguson, who was also a member of the Scottish Conservative
Club, had resided in London for a number of years. He retired from business
three years ago, and had been in failing health for the past twelve months or
more. |
| The Scotsman Tuesday, 26th November
1935 |
