w
e
y

>1

4/niL-

ALf

CHEM. LIB.

22.
.F 35
T483

/1

4.1

A 6

2

422 0 DUpL

JOHN WERI;UsoN.
>%%4 CAL
LUaRARY

n ..nr . r
Kin,
w w .
x gin.
x xt :.n
x
r
t,

.j   l.    'r.

q-a r   'I' ranst eitons os tkt- C Uhei),ca So,ei.t y  v7\oI

IV17  VQ   111


1-             11/
P1     (1     r    G    y Q
P                P1
c\ O       l
d0p>        40> L9P  Yv4O
:1J5'
io :   r
iqcc
C,  ,IV
$4V                   fI     .a
4~                   'oC! t   C
"~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ J-  P     '_  ' P   /j


W .  ~I   WI=             e
OF. ,
4~b  ~((On
I   w   iW   I           .
7Ij        7~ C  A'
W             \I( W'>W =
{O .    '. .     "_F     . .   \   .' ''. .    "F i '7   t
<C(~A7<n
v  A
OF.  ..
W)    I         IW
%  0         7
A? '  Oi      "O.   tI.       Y  P ' . l
I   W   I    W0
7tj         7
'cc .  'c  fj   ' t7    A ? i7..c  q   .    7.,      '
W 40       W         W   I
~7



2 -yj--r

Chcot 136
. F3s
T+r
JOHN FERGUSON.

BORN JANUARY 23RD, 1837; Din NOVEMBER 2ND, 1916.
JOHN FERGUSON, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry in the University
of Glasgow, whose death occurred on November 2nd after an official
connexion with the University of nearly fifty years, was born at
Alloa, in Clackmannanshire, on January 23rd, 1837. His family
were originally from the east country, but removed at an early date
to Glasgow, where his father settled as a merchant.
Ferguson was a man particularly reticent as to his family and
private affairs. He had few relations, and having left no record of
his life, little can be gathered either of himself or his family prior
to his entering the University in 1855. Apparently his father died
when Ferguson was comparatively young; and when the writer of
this notice first became acquainted with the family it consisted
of Ferguson, an only sister, and their mother, to whom both were
much attached and for whom he always expressed in later life feel-
ings of gratitude for her sympathy and assistance in his early(4


834

OBITUARY NOTICES.

education.   She was a somewhat remarkable woman-a regular
specimen of the old Scottish mother, possessing a strong face with
character written in every line of it.
Although John Ferguson matriculated at the University in 1855,
this was not his first introduction to the institution which became
his " Alma Mater," as in a paper, " Memories of the Old College,"
read to the Old Glasgow Club some short time ago he says, " There
is hardly a time I can remember when I did not know the Old
College, for even as a mere child I was taken often to the Hunterian
Museum, and thus became familiar with its wonders, though their
value could make no appeal." It is pleasant to think that the last
official position he held in the university, that of Curator of the
Hunterian Library, brought him at the close of his official career
in still closer relation with the building and its treasures which
had captivated his youthful fancy.
John Ferguson underwent his school education at the old High
School of Glasgow, the original site of which is now almost entirely
covered by the buildings of the Royal Technical College. At the
date he joined this school there were few other large public schools
in Scotland, and the high schools of Glasgow and Edinburgh occu-
pied a prominent position in the education of the country, both
possessing a peculiarly close relationship with the Universities in
their respective towns. In the case of Glasgow this relationship
was intensified by certain customs, one of which is dwelt on by
Ferguson in the paper already referred to, where he mentions being
chosen as one of the boys in his fourth school year to form part of
a deputation to go and address the College professors in Latin,
asking them to grant to their students holidays on Candlemas and
on certain other days termed " Penults." This compliment paid
by the High School to the College was in due time returned, by a
deputation of four red-gowned students coming to the masters to
make a corresponding similar reqaest for the boys in the School.
It was a nice old custom cementing the relationship between the
High' School and the College, and as Ferguson says, "a pleasant
interchange of compliments needlessly abolished by the Commission
of 1858."
After entering the University in the session 1855-1856 Ferguson
spent nine- years as a matriculated student, five of these being in
the Arts Faculty. His course at college was a brilliant one, and
the distinctions he obtained showed the wide grasp of his mind and
the varied nature of his abilities. As an instance of this, we find
that, in addition to other prizes, he took the Cleland Gold Medal
for the best " Essay on the Winds," the Ewing Gold Medal for the
best " Historical Account of the Papacy as a Temporal Power in


OBTTUARY NOTICES.

335

Europe," and in science the Watt Prize, one of the highest science
prizes, for the best " Essay on Cohesion."
In 1861 he took his B.A. degree and in 1862 his M.A. with
honours.
Although a brilliant student in subjects connected with the
Faculty of Arts, and one who it might have been expected would
have proceeded to one or other of the English Universities, Ferguson
remained at Glasgow, and in the late 'fifties turned his attention
more particularly to science, coming under the influence of William
Thomson, afterwards Lord Kelvin.
At that time William Thomson was engaged with his early work
on electric telegraph cables, and Ferguson as one of his advanced
students carried out in the Old College laboratory many of the
early experiments necessary for this work. In the paper already
referred to, Ferguson mentions early experiments made by him
for Thomson " on weighing the force of electrical attraction
between two brass plates," experiments involving special arrange-
ments and endless repetition to ensure accuracy.
The results of these experiments were communicated to the Royal
Society and subsequently employed in the construction of certain
electrical balances, notably the Thomson electrometer. Much atten-
tion was also being given at that time in Thomson's laboratory to
atmospheric electricity, in which work Ferguson was employed to
take readings at the various observation stations. Portable as well
as fixed electrometers were employed, and Ferguson describes in
his paper on the Old College how he undertook to make an observa-
tion at the top of Goaf Fell, in Arran. To ascend that hill, rather
more than 2800 feet in height, carrying a portable electrometer
without disarranging it was no mean task, but Ferguson managed
it, gaining the summit without mishap. The electrical effect, how,
ever, was too powerful for the instrument, which if pressed would
have broken down, so he had to return without any result except
the fact, as he naively expresses it, " that he proved that the $ir at
that height was very strongly electrified."
At this period Ferguson was engaged in other besides experi-
mental work for Professor Thomson, namely, in preparing for the
use of the students an abstract of the Professor's lectures on statics.
This book was known as the " Pamphlet," and would have pro-
ceeded in due course to a larger volume, but the plan was changed,
and this other proposed pamphlet became merged in the treatise
of Thomson and Tait on natural philosophy. Copies of Ferguson's
original " Glasgow Pamphlet" have now become exceedingly rare.
Tife breadth of study Ferguson pursued during his course in the
Arts Faculty was still continued on his entrance into scientific work,


336

OBITUARY NOTICES.

and he enitered the Medical Faculty in 1863, so that he might
study chemistry, a subject at that time only taught in that faculty.
At the same time he attended other scientific subjects, among them
natural history, in which he was a pupil of the distinguished Henry
Darwin Rogers.
After some time spent in the study of general scientific subjects
Ferguson gradually devoted himself more especially to chemistry,
working in the old analytical laboratory in Shuttle Street under
Professor Thomas Anderson, the occupant of the Chemical Chair
at that time. It is interesting to note that this laboratory, origin-
ated by Anferson's predecessor, Thomas Thomson, author of the
" History of Chemistry," was the first one in Great Britain in which
laboratory teaching in analytical and practical chemistry was
systematically given to students. The reason of the situation of the
laboratory being outside the college walls was the fear of fire, and
although the class-room of chemistry used in earlier times by
" Cullen, Joseph Black, and $ope had been within the College, when
the idea arose of permitting students themselves to meddle practi-
cally with such a dangerous subject the authorities decided that
the whole department should be removed to a safe distance.
After working some time in the chemical laboratory Ferguson
became a private assistant to Dr. Anderson, his duty being to
assist in the detailed work in connexion with the Professor's
original researches. Anderson was at that time engaged on his
work on ",Anthracene " and on the " Products of Destructive Dis-
tillation," and many of the substances required for these investiga-
tions were prepared by Ferguson. The large amount of- residues
left over from this work were taken to the New College, and later
on provided William Ramsay with material for his work on the
pyridine and picoline bases.
At this time Ferguson had nothing to do with the teaching, the
university assistant being Dr. E. J. Mills, afterwards Young Pro-
fessor of Technical Chemistry in the Anderson College; but in
1868 he was appointed as one of the University assistants with
charge of the tutorial classes and the superintendence of students
in the laboratory. In 1869, when Professor Anderson was attacked
by illness and was grantel leave of absence for the session, Ferguson
undertook the general superintendence of the department and the
delivery of the lectures, assisted by John M. Thomson as demon-
strator.
The removal of the College to the new buildings at Gilmorehill, in
the west of Glasgow, was then about to take place, and in conse-
quence of Dr. Anderson's enforced absence much of the detailed
work of the arrangements for the removal of the laboratory fell on


OBITUARY NOTICES.

337

Ferguson and the laboratory staff. The necessity, however, of
having to go carefully and in detail into the plans of the new
laboratories awakened in him a new interest, and the experience
then obtained enabled him at a later period to take charge of
operations in the completion of the College buildings.
After removal to the new buildings the work of the Chemical
Department was carried on by Ferguson and J. M. Thomson with
junior assistants until November, 1870, when Professor Anderson,
having partly recovered his health, returned to Glasgow and
resumed the duties. His health, however, continued to fail, and
Ferguson was ultimately appointed to undertake the duties of the
Chair as his substitute. On the. death of Professor Anderson in
1874 Ferguson was appointed to the professorship, William Ramsay
becoming his University assistant, an association which continued
until Ramsay left Glasgow to become professor of chemistry in
University College, Bristol.
In his early days Ferguson was an excellent teacher, possessing
in a marked degree those qualities which were worthy of the best
traditions of professional teaching in Scotland. His lectures were
clear and methodical, having a breadth of treatment especially seen
when dealing with the great period of chemistry at the end of the
eighteenth century and beginning of the nineteenth century. It
was no elementary text-book course that he gave his students, but a
really philosophical introduction to the study of their subject,
invaluable as a guide for future work. He was an excellent experi-
menter, possessing great deftness in the construction and manipula-
tion of the apparatus necessary for the illustration of his lectures-
a matter of no small moment in the late 'sixties, when so much had
to be constructed in the laboratory and so little could be bought.
Ferguson's mind inclining as it undoubtedly did to the literary
and philosophical side of his subject rather than the experi-
mental, has given rise to some criticism in regard to the absence
of the experimental in the record of his work. Such criticism is
thoughtless, as investigation of this kind did not appeal to him for
his own work. He has played his part as the historian, and certainly
from the record of the work of those coming more immediately
under his influence it is clear that he encouraged experimental
research in others.
Whatever his attitude may have been, of the stimulating effect
of his teaching there can be little doubt when we consider the
number of teachers who have come from the Chemical Department
of the Glasgow University during his time, and have o*nupied
important chairs in chemistry in Great Britain   and  in  the
colonies.


338

OBITUARY NOTICES.

Although fully occupied with the duties of his chair and much
engaged with literary work, Ferguson from the time of his ap-
pointment as Professor took his share in general College business,
more especially in matters connected with the Hunterian collec-
tions and the library; but he also gave his attention to finance, and
superintended the final completion of the University buildings in
regard to the Bute Hall ansd the adjoining spire.
As has been said, from the tendency of his mind and the methods
of his education, Ferguson was drawn from the earliest days to
the historical rather than to the experimental side of chemical
science. From natural inclination and from his independent posi-
tion as a teacher in an academic institution, he determined to
undertake this historical side; and when one realises the mass of
information collected in his biographical and historical essays,
information of the greatest importance to those having the real
interest of chemical science at heart, one must be thankful that he
determined to carry on such literary work and that he was in the
independent position to do it.
The fact that journals of learned societies in Great Britain deal-
ing with physical and natural science apparently confine themselves
to the publication only of experimental results gives no oppor-
tunity for the publication of work such as Ferguson pursued, and
therefore the result has remained as yet comparatively unappreci-
ated by many modern chemists. The Proceedings of the Royal
Philosophical Society of Glasgow, however, are open to such sub-
jects, and a large number of his papers specially relating to chemical
history appeared in that journal between 1871 and 1916, the year
of his death.
His first printed communications to that society were made to
the chemical section in 1871, when he read two papers, one on
"Some Recent Criticism of Lavoisier," and another on "Some
Historical Notes on the Discoveries of Dr. Joseph Black." In 1875
he gave an introductory address as President of the Chemical
Section of the Society, in which he puts forth his own views as to
the importance and bearing of the work to which he had devoted
so much of his time.   He gives a complete justification of his
choice in showing the necessity for the full knowledge of chemistry
such a line of work requires, and the duty it was for someone
independently placed and properly equipped to deal with the
historical side, to the apparent neglect of the experimental, or so-
called progressive, side.  From 1876 to 187& Ferguson was much
occupied with the organisation of his department, and published
only some short papers. In 1878, however, with more leisure at
his disposal, he gave a paper on " Eleven Centuries of Chemistry,"


OBITUARY NOTICES.

339.

and began his long paper on " The First Edition of the Chemical
Writings of Democritus and Synesius," a paper which must have
entailed a vast amount of research. While this last-named was
proceeding, he published in 1886 two papers, one on " The First
History of Chemistry," and the other on " Some Early Treatises
on Technological Chemistry." The last was followed by five sup-
plements, published at different times, and covering much research
work over a period of thirty years. While occupied in compiling
these larger treatises, he published smaller papers, of which the
two "Dr. Kopp as an Historian of Chemistry" and "Johannes
Matteus and his Tract de rerum inventoribus," may be considered
the most important. At the same time, from 1871 until 1916 he
gave to the Society of Antiquaries in London and in Edinburgh,
and  to the Archeological Society   of Glasgow, many   other
papers on archeological and bibliographical subjects connected with
alchemy.
On looking at Ferguson's various papers and treatises, it will be
seen that many are published with supplements at different dates,
and also from these dates that several must have been in hand and
being written at the same time. This was due to the fact that
much of his work was done at the British Museum and various
university libraries at home and abroad, and consequently visits
to such libraries could only take place when he was free from pro-
fessional duties, thus entailing the necessary writing of several
papers at once where the sources of information were obtainable.
It also shows his intense desire for completeness and accuracy in
his writings, as well as the difficulties he encountered in obtaining
cumplete and satisfying confirmation of the information he required.
From his great knowledge of primitive and medieval science, it
may be surprising that Ferguson did not write a history of chem-
istry. He never, however, seems to have seriously contemplated
this, and if he had was probably diverted from the idea by becom-
ing occupied in the production of what may be considered his chief
work, the. " Bibliotheca Chemica," a catalogue of the library of
the late Dr. James Young, of Kelly and Durris.
The library to which this catalogue refers was collected by the
owner, not for the more joy of possessing rare and scarce works,
but with the definite object of supplying material for the study
and teaching of the history of technical chemistry, a subject in
which he was much interested.
The work was entrusted to Ferguson by Dr. Young, and well
he carried out the task imposed upon him.
The two quarto volumes of more than one thousand pages are
no mere catalogue, but a very encyclopedia of the history and


340

OBTrUARY NOTICES.

bibliography of early chemistry, as well as a biographical dictionary
of the ancient chemists and philosophers. For a period of nearly
thirty years Ferguson was engaged in the laborious and painstaking
collection of the materials necessary to carry out the great task he
had set himself to do.
He anticipated that the work would be of value to the biblio-
grapher, the collector, and to the student, and to this end a com-
plete collation of every work is given, in itself a most trying labour.
Reference is made to other editions and translations not contained
in the collection, and a concise and critical account of each author
is given after every entry, in which an attempt is made to sum up
the value of the author's writings. After each of these biographies
a full list is printed of authorities and bibliographies consulted,
enabling the inquirer to go directly to the source of the informa-
tion given.  To those who are acquainted with the work, it is
absolutely unique amongst bibliographies, and is an invaluable aid
to the historian and to the student.
Although in time the personality of the author may be forgotten,
the "Bibliotheca Chemica " will ever remain as a perpetual monu-
ment of many years of patient and scholarly research.
In a letter to the writer of the present notice regarding
Ferguson's death, from   a Fellow   of the   Chemical Society,
himself the author of much original work, he gives an apprecia-
tion  from  the  investigator's  point of view  of the   value
of Ferguson's literary work in chemistry. He says: " To me, the
loss of a man with Ferguson's gifts and erudition seems nothing
short of irreparable-he was the last of what seems to be a lost
type among chemists, unrepresented in the present generation.
A man of the finest literary culture, not only saturated with the
lore of the distant alchemical past, but full of sympathy with its
mystical pleadings, he was able to give meaning to them in modern
terms and to show that, after all, they were the expression of the
human nature of their time.
" He may have cared little for the infinite detail of our modern
chemistry: his outlook being broad and philosophical and having
sense of proportion, he could plot the curve of progress in its
entirety and give scale to its essential elements. . . . He was
at his best in his own dining-room within a zareba of books. He
was always the kindest of hosts, and if you could lead him to
draw on his memories of the past, an entrancing companion; so
broad were his interests and sympathies. He was too fine a-critic,
too much possessed by the desire to be cpmplete, ever to commit
himself to any display of his learning-in an age in which so much
ink is spilt, his conscientious literary reticence may appear to have


OBITUARY KOTICES.

341

been out of place, but the motives behind it were? sound, and it
should be respected if only because of the contrast it affords."
Although Ferguson took his share in the general business of
the University his great pleasure undoubtedly lay in the library,
and the profound bibliographical knowledge he possessed was
always at the disposal of his colleagues and of the University.
His own library, containing some few years back more than six
thousand volumes, was both extensive and remarkable, and had
been most carefully selected. To-day it must have' enormously
increased. Paracelsus alone is represented by more than forty
different works and editions, and the chemical literature of the
Middle Ages is abundantly illustrated. In an account of this
library, it has been observed "rarities there were a commonplace."
He had an intense dislike to destroying any printed paper, bound
or otherwise, and although possessed of an ample house, the
increase of volumes during later years had quite overcome the
shelf space and had overflowed over any flat surface that might
be handy.
With all this collection, there was still classified arrangement in
the various piles, and the professor could generally tell where you
might find with a little circumspect search, viewed by him with
a certain anxiety, either an alchemical work, a college calendar,
or a copy of the latest work in fiction.
Next to his books, Ferguson's chief pleasure was in music, of
the science and history of which he had considerable knowledge.
He was a good performer on the piano, and played also the 'cello
to his sister's accompaniment. Many musicians were his friends,
notably Joachim, who always visited him when professional engage-
ments took him to Glasgow. Modern music did not appeal to
him, and he disliked Wagner. Brahms, Beethoven, and the older
masters were his favourites.
Ferguson delighted in travel, and his competent knowledge of
languages, especially French and German, combined with his
striking personality, made him a familiar figure at University
celebrations on the Continent. Indeed in later years, from hi,:
presence, his courtly manners, and exact knowledge of ceremonial
etiquette, he became an almost regular representative of the Senate
at academic functions in this country and abroad.
Of the North-West Highlands of Scotland he was particularly
fond, and being a good walker, had ascended many of the hills
and passed through most of the. glens in these districts in days
long before they became known to the regular tourist.
John Ferguson possessed a unique and delightful personality,
retaining to the end a youthful and vivid outlook on life.


342

OBrUARY NOTICES.

Associated with a true and understanding heart, there was a wide
and tolerant mind, much wisdom in council, and an unfailing
gift of humour-sometimes a little caustic, but never unkindly.
To those who knew him intimately, he seemed to possess the faculty
of sharing in another's joy and a gentle power to comfort in times
of sorrow; and although living the life of a bachelor, with few
relations, no one could accuse him of leading a self-centred life.
He was the best of companions; an admirable talker himself, he
was ever ready to listen, and from his own widespread information
always capable of bringing out the best from those around him.
The striking figure for so many years familiar in the quadrangles
of Glasgow College is now gone, but there will ever remain in the
minds of his old students and friends the remembrance of the
learned but very human professor, the cultured and genial com-
panion, and the devoted friend.
J. M. T.

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY . CLAY AND SOMS, LTD.,
3RUNSWICK STREET, STANFORD STREET, SE. 1 AND 3UNGAY, SUEFOL.



_'                          WQ'    (
Ai
q                            v
W4Q Z   W  Z         F=W
'   ~ ~ ~ 1 .1 c4   F   i       o.  ti  ,  ,i  "y  i    q'
n                              O
.  OF I
q   '   ...           .       -"'  y ..:.      "- '    tp.'
W  I   I    W    =          ii
hi7
(9 ti .  a     "'  i -. _q o.   ,   ^  .O.,'i   q
0  W4O 2               W   =
Q               0f


,P %," }   '   UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN     _ :
0"y "''4        3 9015 06670 9671  -, 4Q>~
3:   Pt     n       p.-  P      o P
-~cp.4oZ
_           fq                     1
"%
'7 I. 4  .  ~)  ~L 4
10 'fOq'
Pt               yy P "=,-    w - ~
v     yV
47
PtL     -0"    1   %   I    Qm   '
ti   v  o,      <     :r " ~         '
Im        <        I

'
jA


v