George Fergusson was born 30 September 1955, the son of Brigadier Bernard Fergusson, later Baron Ballantrae. He was educated at Ballantrae School, Hereworth School, New Zealand, Eton College and Magdalen College, University of Oxford, and in 1981, married Margaret Sheila Wookey, having three daughters (and one son deceased).

After working at Murray and Tait, Solicitors, 1977–78, Fergusson joined the Northern Ireland Office in 1978. He was seconded to the Northern Ireland Department of Commerce, 1979–80, then served first as Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, 1982–83, in the Security and International Division, Northern Ireland Department, c 1983-85, Head of the Northern Ireland Elections and Human Rights Department, c 1985-88, then as First Secretary, Dublin, 1988–91. He then joined the Diplomatic Service in 1990 and his diplomatic career included: Soviet, then Eastern Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1991–93; First Secretary, Seoul [South Korea], 1994–96; Deputy Head, Southern Africa Department, FCO, 1996–99; Head, Republic of Ireland Department, 1997–99; Head, Devolved Administrations Department, 1999; Consul General, Boston [United States], 1999–2003; Counsellor, Cabinet Office, 2003–06; High Commissioner, New Zealand, Governor (non-resident) of Pitcairn, and High Commissioner (non-resident), Samoa, 2006–10; FCO, 2010–12; Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Bermuda, 2012–16; Senior Adviser, UK Governance Group, Cabinet Office, 2016–17.