James Ferguson (American astronomer)

James Ferguson ( born August 31, 1797 in Perthshire, Scotland, † 26 September 1867 in Washington, DC ) was an American engineer and astronomer.

James Ferguson, who lived in the United States since 1800, initially working as an engineer, including the construction of the Erie Canal.

From 1847 he worked as an astronomer at the Naval Observatory in Washington, DC. He discovered three asteroids (see list of asteroids ), including Euphrosyne, the first asteroid, which was discovered from North America. In his memory, in 1941 discovered asteroid ( 1745) Ferguson was named.