Ferguson, Robert Campbell (1880–1945), civil servant, was born 12 July 1880 in Belfast, son of Alfred Campbell, plumber and tinsmith, and Ellen Campbell (née Ferguson), both presbyterians. The family lived at 23 Suir St., Belfast. An outstanding student, he was educated at the Mercantile College, Belfast, and QUB, graduating BA (1906), MA in English literature (1908), and LLB (1910). Remaining at Queen's, he worked as an assistant to the professor of English and as a lecturer in the Workers' Educational Association. During this time he also became involved in the anti-conscription campaign, was a co-founder and secretary of the Belfast Social Welfare Council, and carried out detailed research into Irish industrial conditions.
On 8 January 1920 he joined the Irish department of the Ministry of Labour as a staff officer. He later transferred to the Irish Free State Department of Industry and Commerce and served there as principal officer from June 1923 to April 1924, when he became director of the trade and industries branch. An advocate of protectionism as a means of assisting industrial growth, he criticised the Irish financial institutions at the banking commission (1926) for their niggardly industrial credit policy. A government delegate at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) annual conferences (1923–7, 1931, 1933–9), he was appointed chairman of the ILO forty-hour-week committee in 1936. He also attended the world economic conferences in Geneva in 1927 and 1931.
In August 1927 he was appointed assistant secretary of the Department of Industry and Commerce, and proved to be a dynamic and brilliant administrator. The outbreak of the second world war led to his appointment as acting secretary of the department, and in April 1942 he was appointed deputy secretary. During the war he served as a member of the interdepartmental committee on emergency matters (1940). His publications included ‘Industrial policy and organisation’, in F. C. King (ed.), Public administration in Ireland (3 vols, 1944–54), i, 41. Ferguson was a regular companion of R. M. Smyllie (qv) in the Palace Bar, Fleet St., Dublin, and his chief interest outside his work was French literature. On reaching the age limit he retired from the civil service on 31 July 1945. He died 4 August 1945, a week after his retirement, on Delgany golf course, Co. Wicklow, leaving estate valued at £1,993. On his death the Irish Times described him as a proud Ulster protestant who, despite working for the Free State government, never compromised his strong personal opinions or beliefs.
He married (15 April 1913) Louisa Mary, daughter of James Scott, presbyterian minister, of Banbridge, Co. Down. They had one son and one daughter and lived at 3 Eglantine Place, Belfast, and later at 39 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin.