Ferguson, Hugh (1819?–1890), veterinary surgeon, was probably eldest of three sons of Hugh Ferguson of Dublin (a distant relative of Sir Samuel Ferguson (qv)) and his wife Susan Biggs; the family was well-to-do, and had property in Killiney, Co. Dublin, and elsewhere. In 1842 he published a book on treatments for a contemporary epidemic disease of cattle, and in 1843 a pamphlet on bloodletting in horse diseases. In 1844 he was practicing as a veterinary surgeon in Dublin, and may also have owned a horse-harness warehouse in the city. He had had some connection with the world-famous veterinary school at Alfort, near Paris, and used the title of ‘professor’ when he lectured on veterinary subjects. Apparently his lectures to the public and to farmers, in towns as far away from Dublin as Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, were practical and clear, and he also wrote many popular articles on veterinary topics in newspapers.
By 1847 Ferguson held an appointment as veterinary surgeon to the lord lieutenant, and from 1852 he was also veterinarian to the queen. In August 1865, when an epidemic of cattle plague, also called rinderpest, presented an unprecedented threat to British and Irish agriculture, Ferguson gave at least one lecture on the subject in England (in Guildford, Surrey), and in 1866 wrote to the lord lieutenant to criticise a report drawn up by the chief secretary, Richard Southwell Bourke (qv), Lord Naas, on the best means of preventing the spread of the disease in Ireland. The experiences of the 1860s changed attitudes to animal disease, and government recognised the need for official controls and inspections of livestock. By 1867 Ferguson was listed in Thom's Official Directory as ‘director-general of the veterinary department of the privy council’ in Ireland. This post was equivalent to that of chief veterinary inspector in Ireland, and he was the first holder of the office. He is credited with having laid the foundations of a state veterinary service, which could at least attempt to deal with epidemics of contagious and infectious diseases of livestock, and he is said to have been responsible for the ultimately successful campaign against the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland in the 1870s. He may also have been instrumental in preventing rinderpest from taking hold in Ireland in the 1860s. His recommendations on preventing the spread of diseases to Irish herds and flocks were contained in reports to the privy council. In 1877 he was the author of a comprehensive report on the implications for public health and animal welfare of the trade and movement of animals within Ireland and to Great Britain.
Ferguson is not listed in Thom for 1889. He died 6 March 1890 at his residence, Bishop's Road, Fulham, London. He married (20 November 1852), at the church of St Olave Jewry, London, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late John Squire of Doncaster. Nothing is known of any children.