About William John Ferguson
Lived 1859 – 1935 (aged 75). William John Ferguson was an Australian politician, journalist and stationary engineer.
William John Ferguson (5 September 1859 – 23 May 1935) was an Australian politician.
Born in Redruth in South Australia to smelter James Boyce Ferguson and Barbara Robinson. He attended primary school before becoming an engine driver and journalist in South Australia's mining districts, subsequently moving to Broken Hill, where he married Elizabeth Poole (with whom he had seven children). He would later remarry on 8 December 1927 Lily Gertrude Hanks at Marrickville. In October 1892, following his involvement in the Broken Hill strike, Ferguson was gaoled for "conspiracy", and was released in July 1893. An early member of the Australian Workers' Union and the Political Labor League, Ferguson was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1894 as the member for Sturt. Although he became president of the local council of the Australian Labor Federation in 1899, Ferguson's independent behaviour in the Assembly led to his disendorsement in 1901; he was re-elected as an Independent Labor candidate in 1901 and was defeated as a Liberal in 1904. He later moved to Queensland, dying in Brisbane in 1935.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in William John Ferguson's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William John Ferguson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was William John Ferguson?
Australian politician (1859–1935)
When was William John Ferguson born?
William John Ferguson was born on 5 September 1859 in Burra.
When did William John Ferguson die?
William John Ferguson died on 23 May 1935 in Brisbane.
What was William John Ferguson's occupation?
William John Ferguson was a politician, journalist and stationary engineer.
What nationality was William John Ferguson?
William John Ferguson was Australian.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: William John Ferguson
· DBpedia: William John Ferguson
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William John Ferguson. https://biography.guide/william-john-ferguson/
MLA: "William John Ferguson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-john-ferguson/.
Chicago: "William John Ferguson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-john-ferguson/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:22 UTC