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Ferguson, Patrick
Born: 1744 AD
Died: 1780 AD, at 36 years of age.
Nationality: British
Categories: Inventor, Military Officer, Soldier
Died: 1780 AD, at 36 years of age.
Nationality: British
Categories: Inventor, Military Officer, Soldier
1744 - Born on May 25th in Edinburgh, Scotland. A British army officer and rifle designer. He nvented 1st breech-loading rifle used by British army.
1759 - Ferguson began his career, aged 15, as Cornet in the Royal North British Dragoons (Scots Greys), encouraged by his uncle Gen. James Murray.
1761 - After training, he was sent to Germany, where he served in the Seven Years' War, until illness left him with a lame leg, which gave him years of intermittent trouble.
1768 - He bought a Captaincy in the 70th Foot, and spent 3 years in the Caribbean.
1776 - A brilliant marksman with innovative ideas on light infantry tactics, he improved Chaumette's breechloading mechanism, already used in sporting guns, for use in a military rifle. The Ferguson Rifle was successfully tested, at his own expense.
1777 - Appointed Captain Commandant of his own corps, armed with Ferguson rifles, he was sent to North America.
1780 - On October 7th, the Loyalists made their stand when the Rebels surrounded them in a surprise attack. In a desperate struggle, Patrick Ferguson, the only British serviceman in the battle, fought heroically, until he was shot from his horse. His slight body, which had overcome so much pain and disability, was torn by at least 8 bullets. He died within minutes, without regaining consciousness.
1759 - Ferguson began his career, aged 15, as Cornet in the Royal North British Dragoons (Scots Greys), encouraged by his uncle Gen. James Murray.
1761 - After training, he was sent to Germany, where he served in the Seven Years' War, until illness left him with a lame leg, which gave him years of intermittent trouble.
1768 - He bought a Captaincy in the 70th Foot, and spent 3 years in the Caribbean.
1776 - A brilliant marksman with innovative ideas on light infantry tactics, he improved Chaumette's breechloading mechanism, already used in sporting guns, for use in a military rifle. The Ferguson Rifle was successfully tested, at his own expense.
1777 - Appointed Captain Commandant of his own corps, armed with Ferguson rifles, he was sent to North America.
1780 - On October 7th, the Loyalists made their stand when the Rebels surrounded them in a surprise attack. In a desperate struggle, Patrick Ferguson, the only British serviceman in the battle, fought heroically, until he was shot from his horse. His slight body, which had overcome so much pain and disability, was torn by at least 8 bullets. He died within minutes, without regaining consciousness.
Page last updated: 1:08am, 04th May '07 |
Related Books
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Troubled Waters: Shipwreck and Heartache on the Irish Sea by Patrick Ferguson (Paperback - Sep 1, 2008) Few, today, are aware of the untold horrors that have occurred along the Irish coastline, from Carlingford Lough to the Tuskar Rock. The first of its kind, the stories in this book are accompanied by... Not yet published |
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Two documents on the battle of King's Mountain: Reprinted from the North Carolina Historical review, vol. viii, no. 3, July, 1931 ([Kentucky culture series]) by Randolph Greenfield Adams (Unknown Binding - Jul 26, 2008) |
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Two Scottish soldiers,: A soldier of 1688 and Blenheim, a soldier of the American revolution, and A Jacobite laird and his forbears, by James Ferguson (Unknown Binding - Jan 1, 1970) |
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The legislative process: A teacher's guide to the Alabama legislature by Patrick Ferguson (Unknown Binding - Jul 26, 1980) |
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Biographical sketch: Or, Memoir of Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Ferguson ; originally intended for the British encyclopaedia by Adam Ferguson (Unknown Binding - Jul 26, 2008) |
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Who were McCarran-Ferguson? (Patrick A. McCarran, Homer Ferguson): An article from: National Underwriter Property&Casualty-Risk&Benefits Management by Steven Brostoff (Digital - Feb 26, 1990) This digital document is an article from National Underwriter Property&Casualty-Risk&Benefits Management, published by The National Underwriter Company on February 26, 1990. The length of the article... Available for download now |
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