Born in
Auchtermuchty,
Fife,
Scotland, Ferrier migrated to
Canada in 1821 and established himself in
Montreal,
Quebec, as a successful
Scots-Quebecer merchant. He served as a
city councillor of Montreal from 1841 to 1848. In 1842, Ferrier took the lead in establishing the
High School of Montreal, supported by
William Lunn,
William Collis Meredith, the Rev. Henry Esson, and others, one of their purposes being to provide a solution to the growing influence of
Anglicanism in education at the time. The new school opened in 1843. Ferrier became the fourth
mayor of Montreal, holding office from 1844 to 1847. He served on the
Legislative Council of the Province of Canada from 1847 until
Confederation, after which he was appointed to the
Senate of Canada by
Royal Proclamation on 23 October 1867. He sat with the
Conservative group and represented the
Senatorial Division of Shawinegan until his death in 1888. From 1867 until his death he also served on the
Legislative Council of Quebec, sitting for the division of Victoria. Ferrier was chancellor of
McGill University from 1884 to 1888. He is commemorated by Ferrier Street in northwestern Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal. ==Notes==