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William Fergusson

William Fergusson (1795?–1846) was a physician and the colonial governor of Sierra Leone (1841-2, 1844-1845)^[1].

Personal life

Fergusson was born in Jamaica to a Scottish father and a mother of African descent. ^[2] Fergusson married Charlotte Hall, the daughter of a Musselburgh merchant in November 1818.^[2] Their grandson was the painter William Fergusson Brassey Hole (William Hole). Fergusson died at sea in 1846.

Medical career

Fergusson is the first known Black student to attend the University of Edinburgh.^[3] He enrolled at the Royal College of Surgeons to pursue a medical degree at the age of fourteen.^[4] He qualified in 1813 and was commissioned as a hospital assistant in the army, following pressure from the African Association, which worked to advance people of African descent he was appointed second surgeon to the then colony of Sierra Leone. ^[2] In 1824 he rejoined the army to the position of assistant surgeon in the Royal African Colonial Corps. ^[2] As a colonial surgeon Fergusson had responsibilities in the Liberated African department, treating enslaved people rescued from slaving trips by the navy. He was promoted to the position of staff surgeon, equivalent to lieutenant-colonel, in 1839.

Political career

His experience of working in Sierra Leone in a medical capacity led to his appointment, first in a vacancy as lieutenant and later, as the first and last Black governor of the colony of Sierra Leone.^[2] Fergusson wanted to expand the colony and made treaties with neighbouring chiefs. ^[2]

References

^ Everill (2012). Abolition and Empire in Sierra Leone and Liberia. London: Palgrave. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-137-02867-9.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Fergusson, William (1795?–1846), physician and colonial governor". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/49294. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 2022-04-04. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "1809 – William Fergusson, the first known black student of the University of Edinburgh, matriculates – UncoverED". Retrieved 2022-04-04.
^ Williams, Lisa (Spring 2020). "African Caribbean Residents of Edinburgh in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries". Kalfou. 7: 42–49.

[1] Everill (2012). Abolition and Empire in Sierra Leone and Liberia. London: Palgrave. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-137-02867-9.

[:0-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Fergusson, William (1795?–1846), physician and colonial governor". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/49294. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 2022-04-04. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[3] "1809 – William Fergusson, the first known black student of the University of Edinburgh, matriculates – UncoverED". Retrieved 2022-04-04.

[4] Williams, Lisa (Spring 2020). "African Caribbean Residents of Edinburgh in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries". Kalfou. 7: 42–49.

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