Bob Ferguson

Birth Name: Robert Watson Ferguson

Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Date of Birth: February 23, 1965

Ethnicity: Irish, one quarter German, Northern Irish, Scottish, Anglo-Irish

Bob Ferguson is an American attorney and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been Governor of Washington, since January 15, 2025. He was previously Chair of the King County Council, from November 24, 2009 to January 16, 2013, and Attorney General of Washington, from January 16, 2013 to January 15, 2025.

Bob is the son of Elizabeth Clare “Betty” and Murray Gordon. He is a fourth-generation Washingtonian. He is married to Colleen, with whom he has two children.

Bob’s paternal grandfather was William Henry Watkins Ferguson (the son of Andrew Ferguson and Georgina Watkins). William was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish parents. Andrew was born in Dublin, County Dublin, the son of John Ferguson, who was born in Artrea, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland; and of Georgina Ribton, who was born in Dublin, and belonged to an Anglo-Irish baronet family. Bob’s great-gandmother Georgina was born in Dublin, the daughter of Ann Critchley Manley.

Bob’s paternal grandmother was Anna May Watson McFarlane (the daughter of Donald Daniel David McFarlane and Emma Jane Watson). Anna was born in Au Sable, Michigan, to Canadian parents, from Ontario. Donald was born in Ekfrid, the son of Malcolm Ephraim McFarlane, who was from Argyllshire, Scotland; and of Jennet/Janet/Jeannette Elpeth McMasters, who was born in Dundee, Ontario, to Scottish emigrants, from Invernes-shire. Bob’s great-grandmother Emma was born in Teeswater, the daughter of Robert Thomas Watson, whose parents were from Armagh, County Armagh, Ireland; and of Ann Hume, whose parents were from County Mayo, Ireland.

Bob’s maternal grandfather was Francis Joseph Hausmann (the son of Clemens Hausmann and Catherine Linden). Francis was born in Le Mars, Iowa. Clemens was born in Freeport, Illinois, to German parents, Wilhelm/William Hausmann, from Baden, and Katharina/Katherine Heller, from Darmstadt, Hesse. Bob’s great-grandmother Catherine was born in Illinois, to German parents, Nicholas Linden, from Prussia, and Anna Maria Rosch, who was born in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate.

Bob’s maternal grandmother was Edith Theresa O’Brien (the daughter of William Henry O’Brien and Johannah Flood). Edith was born in Washington, to Canadian parents. William was born in Front of Yonge, Ontario, the son of Patrick O’Brien, who was Irish, and of Mary Lewis. Johannah was born in Front of Yonge, the daughter of Patrick Flood and Mary Catherine O’Connor, who were the children of Irish parents, Patrick from County Wexford and Mary from County Waterford.

Source: Genealogy of Bob Ferguson – https://www.familysearch.org