Constituency : Ross and Cromarty 1884-5, Leith Burghs 1886-1914
Ronald took over at Ross and Cromarty after the retirement of Alexander Matheson.
Ronald was the son of Robert Ferguson, the previous MP for Kirkcaldy Burghs. He was educated at Sandhurst and enjoyed a military career. He joined the Grenadier Guards and served in India.
Ronald was defeated by the Crofters candidate Roderick McDonald in 1885. He failed at Dunbartonshire in 1886 but got in at the by-election at Leith Burghs where Gladstone had stood in addition to Midlothian and been elected. Ronald became Lord Rosebery's private secretary. He went to India with him in 1886-7 and 1892-4. Rosebery made him a whip when he became Prime Minister. Harcourt accused him of working against him.
During the Boer War Ronald sided with the Conservatives so had little hope of office under Campbell-Bannerman who also refused his request to be made Governor of Bombay. He had to settle for Provost of Kirkcaldy.
Having turned down appointment to Governor-General of Victoria in 1910, Ronald accepted the governorship of Australia in 1914. He worked effectively with Prime Minister Billy Hughes to maintain Australia's contribution to the war effort. He resigned his post in 1920 and returned to Britain where he was made Viscount Novar.
Despite Ronald's close friendship with Edward Grey, Lloyd George was happy to appoint him Vice- President of the Council on Education. After the collapse of the Coalition Bonar Law made him Secretary of State for Scotland despite him remaining a Liberal. He retired in 1924 and took on some business directorships.
He died in 1934 aged 74.
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