FERGUSON, Colin, clergyman, born in Kent County, Maryland, 8 December 1751 ; died there, 10 March 1806. He was the son of a Scotch emigrant in very moderate circumstances. His early education was begun at home, but he afterward went to Edinburgh, Scotland, entered the University there, and, after several years' diligent study, returned to Maryland an accomplished scholar. In 1782 he was an instructor in Kent County School at Chestertown. The year following, when Washington College (the oldest in Maryland) was organized, he was chosen professor of languages, mathematics, and natural philosophy. He held this chair for ten years, when he was appointed president. The institution, however, having been deprived of its funds by the legislature of Maryland, Dr. Ferguson resigned in 1804, and spent the remainder of his life in retirement. He studied theology under Rev. William Smith, D. D., rector of Chester parish, and was admitted to deacon's orders in Christ Church, Middletown, Connecticut, 3 August 1785, and to priest's orders, 7 August by Bishop Seabury. He was licensed to preach in St. Paul's parish, Kent County, Maryland, which was the only parish of which he ever had charge. He received the degree of D.D. from Washington College in 1787, and was an active member of the Episcopal general convention of 1789, at which the constitution of the Church was discussed and adopted. Dr. Ferguson was a ready writer, but he published nothing of importance.