John Ferguson

Background

Ferguson was born in Belfast and studied at the Moravian School.

Career

He worked as a fruit merchant, becoming chairman of the Retail Fruit Federation of Northern Ireland, and also as a volunteer social workers within Toc H, then joined the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). He stood for the UUP in Belfast Oldpark at the Northern Ireland general election, 1965, and took 40.5% of the vote, but was not elected. In 1967, he became a Justice of the Peace.

He was also successful in Belfast North at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973, but when he stood in the equivalent Westminster constituency at the October 1974 United Kingdom general election, he took only 8.1% of the vote.

He stood again in Belfast North for the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention, but he narrowly missed re-election.

Achievements

• Ferguson was a founder member of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, and won a seat on Belfast City Council at the Northern Ireland local elections, 1973.

Membership

1st Northern Ireland Assembly (1973–1974).