Biography

Joseph Ferguson. (1718-1791)

Resident tutor to James Boswell (and his brothers) from 1752 to sometime in the mid-1750s. Licensed in 1759, he was ordained vicar of Tundergarth Parish, Annandale, Dumfriesshire on 17/9-1761. Among his parishioners were John Johnston, whom he visited several times during the disease which eventually led to his (Johnston's) death.

Life with James Boswell:

Boswell gives a description of Ferguson as a tutor, in a letter to John Johnston (July 21, 17-63) as follows "I would remind you of Mr. Joseph Fergusson, of his velvet bretches, his grizly Wig and his Speech concerning Kate Straton: Of his systematical morality which he learnt from Professor Hutchison, his excellent Equivocations, and his bawdy narrations." They corresponded on and off until Fergusons's death.

This article was last updated at February 16 2008 20:34:59 CET

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