Harold S. Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Harold Stuart Ferguson M.B.E. (10 February 1851 – 5 January 1921) was a Scottish zoologist.
. Harold spent most of his life in India in Travancore
.
He was married to Isabel Julia Maxwell, niece of Field Marshal Lord Roberts
and daughter of Colonel Hamilton Maxwell of the Bengal Staff Corps.
and around the mid 1880s was a Lieutenant in command of the Nair Brigade of the Rajah of Travancore.
in 1871 and 1872.
He became a member of the British Ornithologists' Union
in 1886. He was elected a Fellow of the Zoological Society in 1891.
Ferguson's toad Bufo scaber
is named after him. He discovered a species of butterfly endemic to the southern Western Ghats, the Travancore evening brown butterfly Parantirrhoea marshali as well as Mycalesis oculus
.
He contributed numerous specimens to the collections of the British Museum.
Family
He was born in Park Street, near Grosvenor Square, London, the fourth child of Robert Ferguson (1799–1865) and Mary Mcleod of Skye. His father was born in India, a close friend of Sir John Macpherson, Governor-General of India and Sir Walter Scott. Robert was an eminent physician who also took an interest in insects, literature and other matters becoming 'Physician Extraordinary' to Queen VictoriaVictoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. Harold spent most of his life in India in Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
.
He was married to Isabel Julia Maxwell, niece of Field Marshal Lord Roberts
Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on...
and daughter of Colonel Hamilton Maxwell of the Bengal Staff Corps.
Military career
He joined the Royal ArtilleryRoyal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
and around the mid 1880s was a Lieutenant in command of the Nair Brigade of the Rajah of Travancore.
Sporting career
He made two appearances for the Scottish XI against England in the football pseudo-internationalsEngland v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
in 1871 and 1872.
Career as zoologist
He was connected to the State Museum at Trivandrum from 1880 onwards, and from 1894 until his retirement from India in 1904 was Director of the museum. Ferguson was interested in all aspects of natural history of the region and he contributed to the herpetology of the state.He became a member of the British Ornithologists' Union
British Ornithologists' Union
The British Ornithologists' Union aims to encourage the study of birds in Britain, Europe and elsewhere, in order to understand their biology and to aid their conservation....
in 1886. He was elected a Fellow of the Zoological Society in 1891.
Ferguson's toad Bufo scaber
Bufo scaber
Ferguson's toad Bufo scaber is a species of toad in the Bufonidae family.It is found in India and Sri Lanka.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland...
is named after him. He discovered a species of butterfly endemic to the southern Western Ghats, the Travancore evening brown butterfly Parantirrhoea marshali as well as Mycalesis oculus
Mycalesis oculus
the Red-disc Bushbrown is a Satyrine butterfly found in southern India. It is similar in markings to Mycalesis adolphei but distinguished by the reddish band around the large apical spots on the upper forewings.-Description:...
.
He contributed numerous specimens to the collections of the British Museum.