Ferguson, the eldest son of the famous philosopher, Professor Adam Ferguson, met Sir Walter Scott when they were both students at Edinburgh University and they remained life-long friends. Scott said that Ferguson had 'the lightest and most airy temper with the best and kindliest disposition'. At the time when this portrait was painted, Ferguson was living as a tenant on Scott's estate at Abbotsford. Scott recalled with pride that Ferguson, who had fought against Napoleon's army in Spain, read the description of the battle from 'The Lady of the Lake' to his soldiers when they were under bombardment from the French.