Louis John George Ferrier was born on the 22^nd of October 1840. His father was Ilay Ferrier of Belsyde, a Major in the 48^th Madras Native Infantry and the East India Company Resident Councilor at Malacca. His mother was Catherine Maria, the daughter of John Bartholomew De Wind of Malacca, where the De Wind had for generations, held extensive lands under the Dutch Government then later under the British after Malacca's cession to the British Crown. He was educated at the Edinburgh Academy as a member of Master John Trotter's class from 1850 to 1855. The Edinburgh Academy was well attended by Ferrier family. Louis' father, two uncles, and two brothers also attended the school. He then studied at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich from 1856 to 1859.[1] He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on the 22 ^nd of December 1859.[2] From 1859 to 1864 he is listed as a Lieutenant in the Hart's Army Lists.

From the 19^th of March 1865 to the 1^st of February 1867, Lieutenant Ferrier was the Commanding Officer of the 12^th Company, Royal Engineers.[3]

The 1869 Hart's Army List shows Lieutenant Ferrier as the Acting Adjutant at the Cape of Good Hope.

In the 1873 Hart's Army List Lieutenant Ferrier is attached to the Ordnance Survey, Oxford. The Royal Engineers have always considered the Ordnance Survey to be one of their more important engineering contributions of the nineteenth century. The note that Lieutenant Ferrier sent along with this photograph is dated 23 October 1872 from 12 Park Place, Oxford. This would seem to have been his place of residence while working with the Ordnance Survey. This note is also interesting in that it is addressed to "David" and mentions that this is the promised photograph for inclusion in the "Trotter Album" which was his class at the Edinburgh Academy. The "David" appears to be David Pearson who was also a member of the Trotter class. He became a Certified Accountant and the President of the Certified Accountants Society.

While stationed at Oxford, Louis Ferrier was busy with more than just engineering as he was issued an Honorary Masters degree from Oxford for services he provided to the Archaeological Society of Oxford.

On the 8^th of March 1873 Louis John George Ferrier was promoted Captain in the Royal Engineers.

The Hart's Army List of 1876 shows Captain Ferrier as the Commanding Officer of the 16^th Company, Royal Engineers.

The Hart's Army List for 1877 shows Captain Ferrier leaving duty with the Ordnance Survey and taking over as Commanding Officer of the 32 ^nd Company, Royal Engineers in Bermuda, West Indies.

Captain Ferrier's career and life were cut short, when the HMS Eurydice sank of the Isle of Wight at 4:30 Sunday afternoon the 24^th of March 1878 with over three hundred on board. She capsized when she was hit by a sudden and severe gale, accompanied by blinding snow, which came down the channel from the northwest. There were only two survivors. The HMS Eurydice was a quick 26-gun wooden sailing frigate built about 1843. She was converted to a naval training-ship for ordinary seamen and was commissioned on the 7 ^th of February 1877.

Captain Ferrier had boarded HMS Eurydice at Bermuda on the 6^th of March, apparently headed home for a leave. His body was identified by his brother Captain George Henry Ferrier of the 105^th Foot which was stationed at Colchester. Captain Ferrier was 38 years old. [4]

[2] Dates, duty stations, and regimental assignments taken from Hart's Annual Army Lists, 1859-1877.

[3] Caldwell, Lt. M.R., History of the 12th Company Royal Engineers, Chatham : Institute of Royal Engineers, 1925.

[4] London Times. 26 Mar. 1878, p.10d and 28 Mar.1878, p.10d.