FERGUSON, William. Urquhart and Logie Wester, Ross-shire 18.7.1820 — Colombo 31.7.1887. British (Scottish) Civil Servant and Botanist in Sri Lanka. Son of John F. and Ann Mackerras, brother of —> Alastair M. F. Joined C.C.S. in 1839. Beside botany he was also interested in herpetology and entomology. Married 1852 Robina Innes, two daughters and two sons.
Publications: Seven books on Sri Lankan plants and one on reptiles.
– “Scripture Botany of Ceylon”, JRAS-CB 3:11, 1858-59, 316-345 (on useful plants also mentioned in the Bible); “On the Supposed Origin of Tamana Nuwara, where Wijayo landed in Ceylon, B.C. 543, and hence Taprobane, as the Classical Name for Ceylon”, JRAS-CB 6:2, 1880, 35-37.
– Botanical and other articles in The Ceylon Observer and the Tropical Agriculturist.
Sources: J.M.R[igg], D.N.B. 18, 356f. and from this Wikpedia (both only briefly); family in http://dna.cfsna.net/GEN/Ceylon/index.html.
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