“Popular Treatise on Gems” (New York, 1838); “Elements of Mineralogy” (1889); “Treatise on Fermented Liquors” (1858); and “Practical Treatise on Soluble or Water Glass” (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,
