High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Samuel "Sam" Ferris was a British athlete who competed mainly in the marathon. He was born in Magherabeg, near Dromore, County Down in what is now Northern Ireland. Ferris lived for the early period of his life at Magherabeg, however he moved to Glasgow with his father when his mother died. They only stayed in Glasgow for a few years, returning to Dromore to the rest of the family. Ferris was like his mother, always interested in running and at the early age of seventeen he joined Shelteston Harriers, winning many prizes in the Junior Open Category.