FERGUSON, JAMES, was b. (1710) near Keith, a village in Banffshire, Scotland. His father being a poor day-laborer, he enjoyed only three months of instruction at school, and his subsequent acquirements were the result of his own insatiable thirst for knowl edge. His tastes lay principally for practical mechanics and astronomy; and while keeping sheep, to which he was early sent, he was constantly employed in making models of mills, etc., and at night in studying the stars. After working at various. country employments, he took to drawing patterns for ladies' dresses, and copying pictures and prints with pen and ink. He then supported himself and his parents by drawing portraits, first in Edinburgh, and afterwards (1743) in London; his leisure time being all the while given to astronomical pursuits. In 1748, he began lecturing on astronomy and mechanics with great acceptance. He was elected a fellow of the royal
society in 1763, and received from George III. a pension of 1;50. He now gave up portraits, and devoted himself to lecturing and writing on his favorite subjects. He died in 1776. F. was held in high esteem for the worth and amiability of his character, as well as for his extraordinary and self-taught acquirements. Few men have done more to promote a knowledge of the results of science, among those who have not the advantage of regular scientific training. His principal works are Astronomy explained upon Sir Isaac .1V ewton's Principles (1756; sir David Brewster's ed., 2 vols., 1811); Lectures on Mechanics, Hydrostatics, Pneumatics, and Optics (1760); also edited by sir David Brewster in 1805; and Select Mechanical Exercises, with an autobiography (1773).