Sterling P. Fergusson

Sterling Price Fergusson, the eldest son of William W. and Medora (Kerby) Fergusson began his career as a meteorologist, observing weather at Riddleton, Tennessee, from 1885-1886. In 1887, he was appointed weather observer at Blue Hills Observatory near Readville, Massachusetts. His work as research assistant with Charles F. Brooks, Director of the Observatory, resulted in the invention of a device for measuring the velocity of super-hurricane winds.

In 1911, he became Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Nevada where he continued his research with kites. In 1916, he accepted a position in the instrument division of the Weather Bureau, Washington, D. C.

Excerpted from the biographical information that accompanies the finding aid to his personal papers, which are part of the Fergusson Family Papers (1784-1927), kept at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.