See also: Fergusson

James Fergusson (Ayr, Scotland, January 22nd 1808 - London, January 9th 1886) is a Scottish specialist in the Indian Architecture of the 19th century.

Fergusson makes its studies with Edinburgh then share in India to work in the branch located at Calcutta of the family firm Fairlie, Fergusson & Co. There, it is caught passion for the Architecture Indian, then little known in Occident. Made fortune, in ten years, in the trade of the Indigo, it traverses India between 1836 and 1841 to study the large monuments of them.

Of return to London, where it withdraws in 1845, eighteen of its sketches made on the reason are lithographed S by Thomas Colman Dibdin and assembled in its first publication, Illustrations off the Rock Cut Temples off India , then twenty-three others, reprocessed by the same artist, off appear in 1848 in Picturesque Illustration Ancient Architecture in Hindustan .

In 1855, it makes appear a handbook of architecture with which it is not satisfied and which it will republish ten years later in a more complete form. However, the pages of the handbook on architecture Indian which occupied a very important space, disproportionate, are gathered to form a separate volume off The History Indian and Eastern Architecture , which appears in 1876, and which, although sufficient to itself, is presented like an appendix of sound The History off Architecture .

Fergusson receives the gold medal of the Royal Institut of the British Architects in 1871. Among its works, others that those already quoted, one finds: has Proposed New System off Fortification (1849), Palaces off Ninevek and Persepolis restored (1851), Mausoleum At Halicarnassus restored (1862), Tree and Serpent Worship (1868), Rude Stone Monuments in all Countries (1872), and The Temples off the Jews and the other Buildings in the Haram Area At Jerusalem (1878). Among papers which it writes for the session of the Institute, one notes: The History off bast Pointed Arch , Architecture off Southern India , Architectural Splendor off the City off Beeja pore , on the Erechtkeum and Temple off Diana At Ephesus .

Although it did not practice architecture, it was also interested in architectural work of its time. He is adviser near the archeologist Austen Layard for the decoration Assyrie N of the Crystal De luxe hotel, and occupies as from 1856 and for two years the general position of director of the Palace Company .

He continues his various activities until his death, in London, the January 9th 1886.

June 4th 1863 -->