Sir Adam Fergusson, 3rd Baronet of Kilkerran

Biographical Summary

"Sir Adam Fergusson, Baronet [S. 1703], of Kilkerran, 1st s. and h., b. about 1732 ; admitted Advocate, 1755 ; suc. to the Baronetcy, 20 Jan. 1759, and was served heir gen. of his father, 7 March 1759, being also served, 4 March 1767, heir of entail gen. to William (Gordon), Earl of Sutherland [S.], and, 15 Sep. 1785, heir gen. of his uncle, Major Adam Fergusson. He was M.P. for Ayrshire (two Paris.), 1774-84; for Edinburgh City, 1784-90, and for Ayrshire, again, 1790-96 ; was LL.D., and was, in 1781, a Commissioner for Trade and Plantation.

In 1791, James Cunningham the last Earl of Glencairn Lord Kilmaurs Chief of Clan Cunningham died without offspring or siblings and the titles went dormant. They did not go extinct because it was known that there were plenty of living descendants of the Glencairn Earls, it was merely a matter of time for the rightful heir to come forward. In 1796, Adam claimed the Earldom of Glencairn in right of his mother, but the House of Lords decided that though he had properly made out that he was heir general of his great grandfather Alexander Cunningham 10th Earl of Glencairn Lord Kilmaurs Chief of Clan Cunningham, he had not, as such, proved his right to the Earldom. In other words, he could not demonstrare that there were virtually no other living heir that preceeded his claim. He died 23 September 1813 at aged 81."

SOURCE: Complete baronetage; Cokayne, George E. (George Edward); 1904; Vol. IV; page 418

Other References

• Biographical index of former fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1783-2002, pt. 1. A-J, page 309