James Ferguson (29 September 1672 – 1 January 1734) was a Scottish lawyer and was also the 1st Laird of Pitfour, a large estate in the Buchan area of north-east Scotland, which became known as 'The Blenheim of the North'.
Although he was a staunch Jacobite, he had no compunction about purchasing lands forfeited by the Earl Marischal when these became available; Deer Abbey was also part of his portfolio.
He died at Slains Castle, the home of the Countess of Erroll, on 1 January 1734.Ferguson's surname is sometimes spelt as Fergusson, and he was initially known as James Ferguson of Badifurrow.
In 1699 after his grandfather's death and on receipt of the court's confirmation of his inheritance, Ferguson promptly sold the lands at Badifurrow.
This had been a timely purchase as his wife Ann Stuart was heavily pregnant with their second child, a son, also named James, who was born at Pitfour very soon after they moved in.
When lands became available through the York Buildings Company he took full advantage of the reluctance of other landowners, who were afraid to be seen to exploit the downfall of fellow Jacobites, and bought extensively.
There were several other lands individually listed, including "the Barony of Aden with the Tower, Fortaliss, Mains and Manor Place therof and pertinents of the same called Fortry, Rora Mill thereof, Croft Brewerie, Inverquhomrie and Yockieshill.
[13][14] The estate was further expanded and developed by Ferguson's son, Lord Pitfour and grandson the third Laird before being decimated by the extravagance of successive generations.
[1] He established a flourishing law practice and one of his clients was his uncle Major General James Ferguson of Balmakelly.
[16] John Ramsay of Ochtertyre is reported to have stated in his memoirs that "James Ferguson, Laird of Pitfour, having been an adventurer in the South Sea, would have been a ruined man, but for his son's exertions.