John Ferguson

Who was John Ferguson?

John Ferguson was a Scottish-born Australian politician. Born in Kenmore, Perthshire, he received a primary education before becoming a carpenter. He migrated to Australia in 1855, becoming a goldminer and carpenter, and then a builder and contractor at Rockhampton in Queensland. He was also a company director. He served on Rockhampton Council, including a period as mayor in 1880. In 1881 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Rockhampton, holding the seat until 1888. In 1894 he was appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council. He successfully contested the Australian Senate in the 1901 federal election for the Free Trade Party, but did not resign his seat in the Legislative Council. Ferguson's interest remained in state politics and he seldom attended the Senate, leading to his seat being declared vacant on 6 October 1903, shortly before the 1903 federal election, which Ferguson did not contest. He continued in the Legislative Council until his death in 1906.