Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/472

446 &ldquo;Popular Treatise on Gems&rdquo; (New York, 1838); &ldquo;Elements of Mineralogy&rdquo; (1889); &ldquo;Treatise on Fermented Liquors&rdquo; (1858); and &ldquo;Practical Treatise on Soluble or Water Glass&rdquo; (1870).

FEUILLET, Louis Econches, French explorer, b. in Mane, near Forcalquier, Provence, in 1600 ; d. in Marseilles, 18 April, 1782. He studied at the college of the convent of Minimes, in Avi- gnon, and at the early age of ten astonished his teachers by observations on astronomical subjects. On 20 March, 1680, Feuillet received holy orders and entered the convent of Minimes in order to dedicate himself exclusively to his studies. Soon his discoveries in mathematics and astronomy gave him a wide reputation, and after a voyage to the Levant with the mathematician Cassini, was sent by Ijonis XIV. on a scientific expedition to the Gulf of Mexico, he sailed from Marseilles, 5 Feb., 1703, and arrived at Martinique on 11 April, 1704. After recovering from an illness which had inter- rupted his observations, he sailed on board of a buc- caneer's ship in September, 1804, and in this queer company visited Puerto Cabello, Santa Marta, Puerto Bello, Carthagena, and other points, land- ing for a few days wherever the vessel touched, to make observations and collect botanical specimens. He afterward returned to Martinique, and from there sailed on a second visit to Trinidad and other West India islands. He returned to France in June, 1706, and became corresponding member of the Academy of sciences, and mathematician in ordinary to the king. He sailed on a second ex- pedition on 14 Dec, 1707, and arrived at Buenos Ayres on 14 Aug. Louis XIV. placed at Feuillet's disposal a man-of-war, to facilitate his work, and from Buenos Ayres he sailed toward Cape Hoi-n. On 24 Dec. he observed the snowy mountains of Staten Land, and then advanced south several degrees, entering the Antarctic ocean. He deter- mined the positions of several islands, took sound- ings, and drew a chart of them. In January, 1709, he sailed as far as El Callao, Peru, and made a complete chart of the Chilian coast. He penetrated the interior of Peru as far as the mountains, and then went to Lima. On 3 Jan., 1711, Feuillet re- embarked and followed a new route to the south- ward, going beyond the 59th parallel. He then visited Havana and Puerto Rico, and arrived in France on 27 Aug., 1711, where he was received with great distinction. In 1724, Feuillet was again sent on an expedition to determine the exact position of the island of Ferro, where the French geographers had located the prime meridian. His works are " Journal des observations physiques, mathematiques et botaniques, faites sur les cotes orientales de I'Amerique meridionale et dans les Indes occidentales de 1707 a 1712" (2 vols., Paris, 1714) ; " Suite du journal des observations phy- siques " (1725). Both works are illustrated with numerous maps and plates. The journal of Feuillet and its continuation have at the end a separate work entitled " Ilistoire des plantes niedicinales qui sont le plus en usage aux royaumes du Perou et du Chili, composee sur les lieux par ordre du roi en 1709, 1710 et 1711." The figures of these plants, most of which were new, are drawn with delicacy and truth. Among others are the fuchsia and the datura grandiflora, which were afterward intro- duced into Europe. The work of Feuillet, with its hundred botanical plates, was afterward published in German (2 vols., Nuremberg, 1756-'7).

FEW, William, senator, b. in Baltimore county, Md., 8 June, 1748; d. in Fishkill, N. Y.. 16 July, 1828. He was descended from William Ffew, who came to this country with William Penn. In 1758 the family settled in Orange county, N. C, where he received an excellent education. After studying law he was admitted to the bar, and be- gan practice in Augusta, Ga. In 1776 he was chosen a member of the assembly, and was ap- pointed one of the council. He served in the Revolutionary war as colonel, and distinguished himself in several actions. In 1778 he became surveyor-general and presiding judge of the Rich- mond county court. He was a delegate from Georgia to the Continental congress from 1780 till 1782, and from 1785 till 1788, and a delegate to the convention that framed the Federal constitu- tion in 1787. In 1788 he was elected one of the first two senators from Georgia, and served in that capacity from 4 March, 1789, till 2 March, 1793. Subsequently he was judge of the circuit court in Georgia from 1794 till 1797, and a member of the convention that framed the constitution of the state of Georgia. In July, 1799, he removed to New York, and was elected to the state legislature from 1802 till 1805. Later he became United States commissioner of loans.

FICKLIN, Joseph, mathematician, b. in Win- chester, Ky., 9 Sept., 1833. He was graduated at the Masonic college in Lexington, Mo., in 1858, and was principal of the Trenton, Mo., high school from 1854 till 1859. Subsequently he was elected professor of mathematics in the Bloom- ington. 111., female college, which chair he held until 1800, and a similar one in the Christian female college in Columbia during 1864-'5. He then was appointed professor of mathematics and astronomy, and director of the observatory at the University of the state of Missouri, in Columbia, which places he still holds. In 1874 he received the degree of Ph. D.. and ten years later that of LL. D. from the LTniversity of Wisconsin. He is a fellow of the American association for the advance- ment of science, and a memlier of the American astronomical society. Prof. Ficklin has published " The Complete Algebra and Key " (New York, 1874) ; *' Algebraic Problems and" Key " (1874) ; "First Lessons in Arithmetic" (1881); "Ele- mentary Arithmetic " (1881) ; " Table-Book and Primary Arithmetic " (1881) ; " Practical Arith- metic" (1881); "Advanced Arithmetic" (1881); " National Arithmetic, with a Key " (1881) ; and " Elements of Algebra " (1881).

FIELD, Archelaus G., physician, b. in Onta- rio county, N. Y., 15 Nov., 1829. He studied medi- cine, and was graduated at Starling medical col- lege in 1854, and at the College of physicians and surgeons. New York, in 1864. He became exam- ining surgeon for pensions in 1866, and held that office for many years. He settled first in Hills- borough, Ohio, and then in Des Moines, Iowa, where he devotes himself to the practice of medi- cine. In 1876 he was a member of the Interna- tional medical congress, and he has been president of the Iowa state medical society. His contribu- tions to medical literature have been large, and he has published reports and addresses delivered be- fore the Iowa and American medical societies.

FIELD, Benjamin, politician, b. in Dorset, Vt, 12 June, 1810; d. in Albion, N. Y., in August, 1876. He early settled in Albion, where he became a stone-cutter and carver. Later he obtained contracts for building railroads, thereby acquiring wealth, and was associated with George M. Pullman in the construction of his railway sleeping-cars. In 1854-'5 he was elected to the New York state senate, and in 1807 was a member of the Constitutional convention. He was a prominent member of the Republican state committee,