He was born in 1783 at Woodhill, Perthshire, Scotland, studied law and became a magistrate.
Impressed by his visit, he settled with his family on a farm, which he also named Woodhill, near Waterdown in East Flamborough Township, Upper Canada in 1833.
He imported cattle from Britain and established a competition, the Fergus Cup, for the best Durham heifer.
He was a senator at the University of Toronto and played an important role in establishing the Upper Canada Veterinary School which became the Ontario Veterinary College, now part of the University of Guelph.
His son Adam Johnston Fergusson Blair served in the legislative assembly for the Province of Canada and was later named to the Senate.