Sir Alexander Charles Onslow Fergusson (8 April 1949 – 31 July 2018) was a Scottish politician and farmer who served as Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Scottish Conservative Party, he was Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) from 1999 to 2016. Born in rural Wigtownshire, Fergusson was educated at Eton College before attending the Scottish Agricultural College at Auchincruive. After completing an ONDA, he took over his family farm estate in 1971. As a farmer, Fergusson gained a considerable reputation, becoming President of the Blackface Sheepbreeders’ Association, Deputy Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran and a member of the Scottish Landowners Federation and the Game Conservancy Trust. In 1999, Fergusson was elected to the Scottish Parliament, representing the South of Scotland region. As an MSP, he was a lead spokesman for Agriculture and Forestry for the Conservative party and Convener of the Rural Development Committee. In the 2003 election, he was elected as an MSP for the Galloway and Upper Nithsdale. After being re-elected in 2007, he was elected as the 3rd Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. Fergusson stood as presiding officer after the 2011 election and returned to backbench politics. He stood down as an MSP in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election. Early life Early years and education Alexander Charles Onslow Fergusson was born on 8 April 1949 in Leswalt, Wigtownshire to the son of Simon Fergusson and Auriole Hughes-Onslow. His father was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders before becoming a Church of Scotland minister at Leswalt. Fergusson was raised in South Ayrshire. Fergusson was educated at Eton College from 1962 to 1966. He spent two years in New Zealand after leaving school, mainly involved in agricultural work. He returned to Scotland and attended the Scottish Agricultural College at Auchincruive to complete an ONDA. Farming career In 1971, Fergusson took over his family farm in Barr. He ran this hill farm, rearing cattle and sheep, gaining a considerable reputation in farming circles. Fergusson later became the President of the Blackface Sheepbreeders’ Association. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran and a member of the Scottish Landowners Federation and the Game Conservancy Trust. Political career Election to Holyrood Fergusson began holding office as a Community Councillor. He was elected as a member for the South of Scotland region of the Scottish Parliament 1999, and has