Ronald Craufurd Munro-Ferguson, KT, GCMG, PC, 1st Viscount Novar

Ronald Craufurd Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar KT GCMG PC (6 March 1860 – 30 March 1934), was a Scottish politician and colonial governor. He served as the sixth Governor-General of Australia (1914–1920), and is considered as probably the most politically influential holder of this post. After his return to Britain he was Secretary for Scotland (1922–24).  

Family

Munro Ferguson was born Ronald Craufurd Ferguson at his family home in the Raith area near Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, the son and eldest child of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Ferguson, a wealthy member of the British House of Commons of old Scottish descent. His mother was Emma Eliza (née Mandeville). In 1864 his father inherited the estates of Novar in Ross-shire and Muirton, Morayshire, and took the additional surname Munro.

Lord Novar married Lady Helen Hermione (1863 – 9 April 1941), daughter of Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, in 1889. The union was childless. Lady Novar's work for the British Red Cross Society, which included converting the ballroom of Melbourne's Government House for this purpose, earned her appointment as a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1918. Lord Novar died at his home in 1934, aged 74, his title dying with him as he left no issue.  Lady Novar, GBE, JP (Fife) died in 1941.

Pedigree

The Munros have been at Foulis for over six hundred years and possibly their most notable marriage was between the eighth laird and a niece of Queen Euphemia, second wife of Robert II. They were a fighting family appearing at most of the major confrontations in Scotland's story. Robert Munro of Foulis led his clan at Bannockburn; they supported Mary Queen of Scots and in the 1745 uprising they fought with the government troops against Prince Charles Edward Stewart. During the 17th century, Robert Munro, 18th chief, raised 700 of his men to fight for the Protestant cause in Sweden, "three generals, eight colonels, five lieutenants, eleven majors and above thirty captains, all of the name of Munro.

The Munros of Foulis have a unique family tree which covers 1333 to 1746. In more recent times, General Sir Hector Munro of Novar was a soldier who gained fame in India in the 1770s and 1780s.Hector Hugh Munro wrote books under the pseudonym of "Saki" and was killed in the 1914-18 war. Mountaineer Sir Hugh Munro was responsible for creating the list of mountains in Scotland above 3,000 feet which are named after him - the Munros. Jay R Monroe, founder of the Monroe Calculating Machine Company of the USA was one of the first to put mass produced calculating machines on the market in 1919. His son presented one of these machines to the Clan Munro museum in 1982.

Links

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Munro_Ferguson,_1st_Viscount_Novar
2. The Chiefs of the Clan Munro
3. THE MUNROS of FOULIS
4. http://www.rampantscotland.com/clans/blclanmunro.htm
5. Biographical index of former fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1783-2002, pt. 1. A-J, page 309
6. Burke, Sir Bernard. A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland 6th ed.. 1879. page 553

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RONALD CRAWFORD MUNRO-FERGUSON, 1st Viscount Novar & 12th and last Laird of Novar, was a British politician who served as the Sixth Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1914 to 1920.

In 1864, RONALD-MUNRO inherited from a cousin the estates of Novar in Ross-shire and Muirton, Morayshire, his father taking the additional surname Munro.

RONALD was educated at home and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and initially pursued a military career. He served in the Grenadier Guards in 1879-84.

RONALD MUNRO FERGUSON was elected to the House of Commons in 1884, defeated a year later, and re-elected in 1886. He entered Parliament as a Liberal, winning and losing Ross and Cromarty before taking Leith Burghs, the seat he held until 1914.

A Liberal Imperialist, he was an ally of Lord Rosebery and served as a Junior Lord of the Treasury in his government.

RONALD MUNRO FERGUSON was overlooked for ministerial office by Henry Campbell Bannerman and H. H. Asquith, but in 1914 was appointed 6th Colonial Governor-General of Australia.

He was politically influential, forming a close bond with Prime Minister Billy Hughes, and was committed to his role as nominal Commander-in-Chief during World War I.

RONALD MUNRO FERGUSON’S six years in office was a record until being surpassed by another wartime governor-general, Lord Gowrie.

RONALD MUNRO FERGUSON was raised to the Viscountcy once his term ended, and from 1922 to 1924 returned to politics as Secretary of State for Scotland under Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin. He received the Freedom of Edinburgh in 1923.

In retirement, he held various company directorships.

Novar Gardens in South Australia was named in 1921 in honour of Viscount of Novar.