He worked for the firms of Patterson, Laing and Bruce and then Brooks, McGlashan and McClarg, rising through the ranks of the latter, and listed his profession as "salesman" at the time of his election.
[1][2][3] Fotheringham was elected to the Legislative Assembly at a 1901 by-election for the seat of Footscray following Samuel Mauger's resignation to enter the inaugural federal parliament, winning by only 45 votes.
[8][9][10] Following his resignation, Fotheringham managed the millinery department for Sydney softgoods business W & A McArthur Ltd, and later became the firm's resident buyer in London.
On 25 February 1917, he was on board the Cunard liner Laconia when it was torpedoed by German forces off the coast of Ireland during World War I with many fatalities.
He was rescued after ten hours in a lifeboat, and was widely interviewed (including by the New York Times) about the horrors of the sinking.