Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 18.djvu/229

 superintendent of the factory, and ultimately became sole contractor to the government. His energy and ability soon acquired for him both wealth and influence, and he won the special confidence and favour of Warren Hastings.

When, after reaching middle life, Farquhar returned to England, he possessed a fortune of about half a million, invested by his banker, Mr. Hoare, in the funds. On landing at Gravesend he is said to have walked to London in order to save coach hire, and arrived at his banker's so covered with dust and so poorly clad that the clerks allowed him to wait in the cash office till Hoare accidentally passed through, and was with some difficulty persuaded to recognise him. Farquhar took up his residence in Upper Baker Street, Portman Square. His sole attendant was an old woman, and the house soon became conspicuous for its neglected appearance. His own apartment is said to have been kept sacred even from her intrusion; but the tradition that neither brush nor broom was ever applied to it is probably an exaggeration. He was often taken for a beggar in the street. At the same time he was princely in charitable contributions. He became a partner in the great agency house of Basset, Farquhar, & Co. in the city, and purchased a share in the famous brewery of Whitbread. His wealth, as it accumulated, was devoted partly to the purchase of estates, but the greater proportion was invested in the funds and allowed to increase. In 1822 he purchased Fonthill Abbey from William Beckford (1749–1844) [q. v.] for 330,000l., and he occasionally resided there until the fall of the tower in December 1825, shortly after which he sold the estate. Though penurious in his personal habits he was fond of attending sales, and was a keen bidder for any object that struck his fancy. Notwithstanding his idiosyncrasies his manners were affable and pleasant. Besides having a special knowledge of chemistry he was an accomplished classical scholar, and also excelled in mathematics and mechanics. His religious beliefs were modified by his strong admiration of the moral system of the Brahmins. He wished to expend 100,000l. for the foundation of a college in Aberdeen, with a reservation in regard to religion; but on account of a difficulty about parliamentary sanction the scheme was not carried out. He died suddenly of apoplexy on 6 July 1826. His wealth amounted to about a million and a half, and as he had left no will it was divided among his seven nephews and nieces.

[Gent. Mag. xcii. pt. ii. 291; Chambers's Biog. Dict. of Eminent Scotsmen, ed. Thomson, ii. 4–5; Anderson's Scottish Nation.]  FARQUHAR, ROBERT TOWNSEND (1776–1830), politician, second son of Sir Walter Farquhar [q. v.], a well-known physician, was born 14 Oct. 1776. Shortly after attaining his majority he was appointed commercial resident at Amboyna, and after holding this post for several years he was named lieutenant-governor of Pulo Penang. At the peace of Amiens in 1802 he was appointed commissioner for adjusting the British claims in the Moluccas, and for the transference of those islands to the Batavian Republic. In 1807 he published ‘Suggestions for Counteracting any Injurious Effects upon the Population of the West India Colonies from the Abolition of the Slave Trade.’ The writer formulated a scheme for supplying the demands of the colonies with agricultural labourers, chiefly by the encouragement of the Chinese to extend their migration to the West Indies, the expense to be met either by the wealthy planters or the government. In 1812 Farquhar was appointed governor and commander-in-chief of the island of Mauritius. He drew up a chart of Madagascar and the north-eastern archipelago of Mauritius, and in issuing this chart to the public anticipated the discoveries of a later period by drawing attention to new fields for British trade. He showed the necessity which existed for ‘penetrating into the great countries of the Mozambique channel and the east coast of Africa.’ During his stay in the Mauritius, Farquhar made determined and successful efforts to grapple with the evils of the slave trade. The traffic was carried on, not by the respectable inhabitants, but by a number of French adventurers, concerned in privateering. Farquhar took vigorous measures to put an end to the traffic, and concluded treaties with Radama, prince of Madagascar, and the Imaum of Muscat. These treaties were scrupulously observed, and the slave trade was eventually suppressed in the Mauritius, though it continued to be carried on in the isle of Bourbon. Farquhar resigned the government of the Mauritius in 1823, and on the voyage home visited Madagascar, to take leave of the chiefs. He was received with great ceremony, and thousands of the natives from the interior brought free-will peace-offerings, as a recognition of the efforts of the ex-governor in behalf of the native population. Upon his return to England, Farquhar was elected to parliament in 1825 for the borough of Newton in Lancashire. In 1826 he was returned for Hythe, and this constituency he continued to represent until his death on 16 March 1830. Farquhar, who was a director of the East India Company, was created a baronet