Arthur Ferguson (police officer)

Ferguson was the eldest son of Lieutenant-Colonel George Arthur Ferguson (1835–1924), the sixth Laird of Pitfour, a large estate in the Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland. His mother was Nina Maria Hood, who was the eldest daughter of Alexander Nelson Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport.[1][2]

Ferguson was born in British North America while his father was posted overseas, but the family returned to Britain in 1864 and initially lived in London.[2]

He went to Eton College in 1876 and was then commissioned into the Rifle Brigade,[3] in which he served for 22 years. He saw active service in the Second Boer War. He achieved the rank of Major in February 1901[1] after which, in October that year, he returned to his father's estate at Pitfour. He married Janet Norah Baird (1878-1943), a daughter of Sir Alexander Baird, in London in 1902.[4]

In 1904 he was appointed His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland and served in this role until 1927, although he rejoined the Army during the First World War.[4]

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours[5] and knighted on his retirement in 1927.[4]

He died at the age of 72. His son, Angus Arthur Ferguson (born 1903), also became a police officer, eventually serving as Chief Constable of Northamptonshire from 1931.[4]

• Obituary, The Times, 15 February 1935