Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/450

424 also noted for his many private acts of charity. He was elected to the state senate in 1841, and for many years took an active part in polities, first as a conservative Whig and afterward as a Democrat. He was an earnest supporter of Harrison in 1840, and received a service of plate from his friends for his efforts in the canvass, and was a presidential elector on the Taylor ticket in 1848.

FEARING, Benjamin Dana, soldier, b. in Harmar, Ohio, 10 Oct., 1887 ; d. there, 9 Dec, 1881. He was graduated at Marietta in 1856, and entered a Philadelphia publishing house. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the 2d Ohio regiment, took part with it in the battle of Bull Run, became adjutant of the 36th Ohio in August, and on 17 Dec. was made major of the 77th Ohio, which he commanded at Shiloh. On 26 Aug., 1863, he was made lieutenant-colonel of the 92d Ohio, which he had assisted in raising, and was promoted to colonel on 22 March, 1863. He defended Hoover's Gap at the head of three regiments, and distinguished himself at Chickamauga. where he was severely wounded. He rejoined his regiment in March, 1864, led it at Resaca, Kenesaw, Atlanta, and Jonesboro, and on 2 Dec. was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers. He commanded a brigade in Sherman's march to the sea, and was again severely wounded at Bentonville, where he led a charge, of which Anson C. McClurg, in his "Lost Chance of the Confederacy," says, "Upon this movement of Gen. Fearing's brigade, in all probability, turned the fortunes of the day." After the war he engaged in manufacturing in Cincinnati, but illness caused by his wounds forced him to retire in 1869, and finally ended his life. Gen. William T. Sherman spoke of him as " the bravest man that fought on Shiloli's field."

FEARON, Henry Bradshaw, English traveller, b. in London about 1770. He was a London surgeon, and was sent by thirty-nine English faniilies to the United States in 1817 to ascertain what part of this country, if any, would be suitable for their residence. He gave an account of his experiences in " Narrative of a Journey of 5,000 Miles through the Eastern and Western States of America" (London, 1818). Sydney Smith, in a review of this book, said that its author was "no lover of America, and a little given to exaggerate in his views of vices and prejudices." Fearon also published a work on " Cancers " (London, 1784).

'''FEATHERSTON. Winfield Scott''', soldier, b. in Rutherford countv, Tenn., 8 Aug., 1821 ; d. in Holly Springs, Miss., 28 iMay, 1891. ~In 1836, while at school in Georgia, he served for three months as a volunteer against the Creek Indians. He then studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1840. He was afterward elected to congress as a Democrat, and served in 1847-'51, but was defeated for a third term by the Union candidate. He was a presi- dential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1852, and was sent by his state to Kentucky in Decem- ber, 1860, to confer with the authorities on the subject of secession. In May, 1861, he became colonel of the 17th Mississippi regiment. He served in Virginia in 1861-'2, and on 4 March of the latter year was promoted to brigadier-general for gallantry at Ball s Bluff. He was wounded on the fifth day of the battles around Richmond, and in January, 1863, was transferred to Vicksburg at his own request. He commanded an expedition sent to meet Porter's gun-boats, ascending Deer Creek, joined Johnston in Georgia in May, 1864, and continued with that army till the surrender in 1865, commanding a division much of the time. After tiie war he returned to the practice of law, and was a member of the Mississippi legislature in 1876-'8 and 1880-2. In 1881 he became judge of the 2d judicial circuit of the state.

FEATHERSTONHAUGH, George William, traveller, b. in 1780; d. in Havre, France, 28 Sept., 1866. In his early life he spent many years in North America, and in 1834-'5 made for the U. S. war department a geological inspection of part of the western country. In his reports, which were printed by order of congress, he is called &ldquo;United States geologist.&rdquo; The government authorized these examinations to be made only in the territories of the United States; but Featherstonhaugh took notes upon all the country passed over in his journeys, for use when congress should authorize a geological map of the United States. Such a map is now projected (1887), fifty years after Featherstonhaugh's surveys. On account of his thorough knowledge of the country, he was appointed by the British government a commissioner to settle the northern boundary of the United States, under the Ashburton treaty, and for the successful execution of this task was made British consul for the departments of Calvados and Seine, France. His writings on statistical and political subjects were clear and vigorous, and his geological memoirs merited the approval of his friends Buckland and Murchison. His publications include a translation of Cicero's &ldquo;Republic&rdquo; (New York, 1828); &ldquo;Geological Report of the Elevated Country between the Missouri and Red Rivers&rdquo; (Washington, 1835); &ldquo;Geological Reconnoissance in 1835 from Green Bay to Côteau de Prairie&rdquo; (1836); &ldquo;Observations on the Ashburton Treaty&rdquo; (London, 1842); &ldquo;Excursion through the Slave States&rdquo; (New York, 1844); and &ldquo;Canoe Voyage up the Minnay Sotor&rdquo; (2 vols., London, 1847).

FEBIGER, Christian, soldier, b. on the island of Fünen, Denmark, in 1746; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 20 Sept., 1796. His father died when the son was about sixteen years old, and the boy, after receiving a military education, went to Santa Cruz on the staff of his uncle, who had been appointed governor of that island. He travelled through the American colonies on a tour of observation in 1772, and in the following year engaged in commerce in the eastern states. He joined a Massachusetts regiment on 28 April, 1775, became its adjutant shortly afterward, and distinguished himself at Bunker Hill. He was in Arnold's Quebec expedition, was taken prisoner at the storming of that city on 31 Dec., 1775, and was sent to New York with other prisoners in September, 1776. On 13 Nov. he was appointed a lieutenant-colonel in the Virginia line. He joined his regiment, the 11th Virginia, on being exchanged, 1 Jan., 1777, and fought in the Philadelphia campaign, being made colonel of the 2d Virginia on 26 Sept., after the battle of the Brandywine. He was on the right of Greene's wing at Germantown, led 4,000 men, with two guns, at Monmouth, and commanded the right column in the attack on Stony Point, where he distinguished himself, taking the British commander prisoner in person. He was sent to Philadelphia on 1 Sept., 1780, to forward stores to the army, and was afterward on recruiting duty in Virginia, though he was in the field at intervals, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. He retired from active service on 1 Jan., 1783, was brevetted brigadier-general on 30 Sept., and then settled in Philadelphia, where he engaged in business. During his military service Febiger bore the sobriquet of &ldquo;Old Denmark.&rdquo; He was treasurer of Pennsylvania from 13 Nov., 1789, until his death. &mdash; His grandson, John Carson, naval officer, b. in