James Fergusson (architect)

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James Fergusson

James Fergusson (born January 22, 1808 in Ayr , Scotland, † January 9, 1886 in London ) was a British businessman and architectural historian who was one of the first Europeans to deal with Indian architecture .

biography

James Fergusson was born in 1808 in Ayr on the southwest coast of Scotland, the second son of the Scottish military surgeon and writer of medical articles William Fergusson (1773-1846). After completing his education at the Royal High School in Edinburgh and at a private school in Hounslow near London, he went to work as a businessman in an indigo trading house in Calcutta , Bengal , in which his older brother was a partner. But just a few years later he founded his own indigo trading company. In addition to his commercial activity, he began to be interested in the architecture of India and made several trips. Business was good and after about ten years he returned to England, where he settled as a private scholar in London, but between 1834 and 1843 he made several trips to India. In addition, Fergusson dealt with ancient architecture of the Mediterranean region and with topics of the national defense of England against a French invasion.

In 1845 Fergusson published The Rock-cut Temples of India and again ten years later he published The Illustrated Handbook of Architecture, being a Concise and Popular Account of the different Styles of Architecture prevailing in all Ages and Countries , published in the In 1862 the project A History of the Modern Styles of Architecture was followed. His work from 1855 was reprinted, but the chapters on Indian architecture were greatly shortened. These were summarized and expanded in the book The History of Indian and Eastern Architecture in 1876 .

Honors

  • In 1840 he was appointed a member of the Royal Asiatic Society .
  • In 1856 he was accepted as a member of the renowned Athenaeum Club .
  • In 1871 he received a gold medal from the Institute of British Architects .

Work (selection)

Ratha Festival, Puri

Fonts

  • The Rock-cut Temples of India (1845)
  • An Essay on a Proposed New System of Fortification: with Hints for its Application to our National Defenses (1849)
  • Palaces of Nineveh and Persepolis restored (1851)
  • Notes on the Site of the Holy Sepulcher at Jerusalem (1860)
  • Mausoleum at Halicarnassus restored (1862)
  • Tree and Serpent Worship (1868)
  • Rude Stone Monuments in all Countries (1872)
  • The History of Indian and Eastern Architecture (1876)
  • The Temples of the Jews and the other Buildings in the Haram Area at Jerusalem (1878)

Drawings etc.

His work also includes numerous drawings and photographs, which today are among the earliest documents of this kind on Indian architecture.

Web links

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personal data
SURNAME Fergusson, James
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British businessman and architectural historian
DATE OF BIRTH January 22, 1808
PLACE OF BIRTH Ayr , Scotland
DATE OF DEATH January 9, 1886
Place of death London