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Eldest son of Colonel
Robert Munro-Ferguson, M.P., for Kirkcaldy, Scotland, and his wife, Emma,
daughter of J. H. Mandeville, was born on 6 March 1860. He was educated
principally at home, and at the age of 15 joined the Fife light horse. He
subsequently studied at Sandhurst, and in 1880 became a lieutenant in the
grenadier guards. In 1884 he was elected a member of the house of commons
for Ross and Cromarty, but the franchise having been enlarged, he lost his
seat at the 1885 election. In 1886 he was elected for Leith Burghs and in
the same year became private secretary to Lord Roseberry. He went to India
with Roseberry in 1888, and there met Lady Helen Blackwood, daughter of
the viceroy, Lord Dufferin, and married her in 1889. Munro-Ferguson was a
lord of the treasury when Roseberry was premier in 1894-5, and in 1910 he
was made a member of the privy council. He was friendly with Spring Rice,
Asquith and Haldane, and was closely associated with the liberal party
though of too independent a cast of mind to be considered a good party
man. This was probably the reason of his not attaining cabinet rank. At
the time of the last Irish home rule bill he advocated home rule for
Ulster, within home rule for Ireland. Apart from politics he took much
interest in his estate and especially in forestry.
In February 1914
Munro-Ferguson was appointed governor-general of Australia and arrived
there in May. Soon afterwards Joseph Cook, then prime minister, finding
the parliamentary position unworkable, asked for a double dissolution
which was granted. The election was held in September and the Labour party
was returned with a good working majority. War had broken out in the
meantime, and Munro-Ferguson and his wife had immediately taken the lead
in encouraging the many war organizations that were started. It was
difficult to travel much about Australia in the circumstances, but what
was possible was done. He continued his interest in forestry, made a
collection of specimens of Australian woods, and endeavoured to encourage
the planting of trees. He worked well with the leaders of all political
parties, uniting a simplicity of manner with much strength of character
and devotion to duty. His term ended in 1919 but was extended for another
year to cover the period of the visit of the Prince of Wales.
Munro-Ferguson left Australia in 1920 amid general regret and on his
return to England was raised to the peerage as Viscount Novar. He was
secretary for Scotand from 1922 to 1924, but did not afterwards hold
office. He died on 30 March 1934 and was survived by Lady Novar. He had no
children. He was made G.C.M.G. in 1914, and a knight of the Thistle in
1926. |
