Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VII.djvu/65

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FAHLUN FAIR dish royal family, and a number of them were purchased by Frederick VI. of Denmark. FAHLUN, or Falun (Sw. FaUu the capital of the Swedish Ian of the same name or Koppar- berg, on the W. shore of Lake Runn, 130 m. 1ST. K W. of Stockholm ; pop. in 1868, 5,891. The houses are low and almost entirely of wood. The copper mines W. of this town are among the oldest and most celebrated in Europe. They produced in former times upward of 3,000 tons, but now about 700 tons annually. The exter- nal opening, made by the falling in of ancient galleries, is about 300 ft. deep, and 1,200 ft. long by 600 wide. The descent to the bottom of this is by easy stairs, whence steep ladders lead to the pits, the lowest of which are about 1,300 ft. from the surface. The excavations extend many miles under ground, forming several magnificent chambers, where banquets were given to Bernadotte and his queen, and Prince Oscar, on which occasions the mines were brilliantly illuminated. The mines are owned by a company of 1,200 shares, which has' the monopoly of iron and other works in the vicinity. Besides copper, small quantities of gold, silver, and lead are obtained from the ore. Connected with the mines are a school of practical mining, a model room, a large scientific library, and a geological museum. (For the Ian see KOPPAEBEEG.) FAHRENHEIT, Gabriel Daniel, a German phy- sicist and mechanician, born in Dantzic about 1690, died in Amsterdam, Sept. 16, 1736. His predilection for the natural sciences led him to abandon mercantile life and travel in pursuit of knowledge. After visiting various parts of Germany, France, and England, he settled at Amsterdam as a maker of philosophical instru- ments. Here some of the most eminent natu- ral philosophers of the day became his friends and instructors. Fahrenheit improved the areometer, and made some progress with the design of a hydraulic machine for the draining of marshes, which he left unfinished ; but he is chiefly distinguished for the changes which he made in the thermometer, which were first car- ried out in 1720, and have added much to the accuracy and value of that instrument. (See THEEMOMETEE.) His thermometer since its first introduction has been in general use in Holland, Great Britain, and the United States. Its constructor was elected a member of the royal society of London in 1724, in whose 44 Philosophical Transactions" for that year are papers by him. FAIDHERBE, Lonis Leon Cesar, a French sol- dier, born in Lille, June 3, 1818. He studied at Paris and Metz, served in Algeria and Guadeloupe, and became in 1854 governor of Senegal, where he distinguished himself and considerably extended the French possessions. After a brief command in Algeria he was sent again to Senegambia, and remained there as governor till 1865, when he became com- mander of the military division of Bona in Algeria. After the capture of the citadel of Amiens by the Germans, at the end of November, 1870, he was appointed by Gam- betta commander-in-chief of the northern army and of the third military division. With about 50,000 men he took the offensive near Amiens, and after various unfortunate engage- ments was thoroughly defeated at Bapaume, Jan. 3, 1871, Pe>onne capitulating Jan. 10, after three weeks' resistance; and he was overwhelmed at St. Quentin, Jan. 19. His forces were completely disorganized and re- treated toward Lille, and the northern army was disbanded in March. In June he was elected by Lille to the national assembly, and in 1872 he resigned his commission in the army. He has written CJiapitre de geographie sur le nord-ouest de VAfrique (1864) ; Collection complete des inscriptions numidiques (1870) ; and Campagne de Varmee du nord (1871, sev- eral times reprinted). FAILLON, Michel Etienne, a French theological and historical writer, born at Tarasconin 1799, died in Paris, Oct. 25, 1870. He was a Sul- pician of Paris, and came to Montreal in 1854 as visitor of the houses of that congregation in America. His contributions to the history of Canada are numerous and valuable, embracing a life of the Ven. Mr. Olier (1853) ; of Margaret Bourgeoys, foundress of the congregation sis- ters (1852) ; of Mile. Maure, foundress of the H6tel Dieu (1854); of Madame d'Youville, foundress of the gray sisters (1852) ; of Mile, le Ber, the recluse (1860) ; and a very extended history of the French colony in Canada, of which 3 vols. 4to (1865-'6) appeared before his death, embracing only a small portion of his plan. FAILLY, Pierre Lonis Charles Achille de, a French soldier, born at Rozoy-sur-Serre, department of Aisne, about 1810. He went to Algeria as sub-lieutenant in 1828, was afterward orderly officer of King Louis Philippe and director of the military school at Toulouse, became brigadier general in 1852, and for his services in the Crimean war was made general of di- vision, Sept. 22, 1855. He was aide-de-camp of Napoleon III., commanded a division in the war of 1859, and especially distinguished himself at Solferino. In 1867 he was sent with an expeditionary corps to Rome. On the outbreak of the Franco-German war in 1870 he was placed in command of the fifth corps, with his headquarters at Bitsch. After the disastrous battle of Worth he retired with the remnant of MacMahon's army to Chalons. Cooperating with the forces of the latter during their passage of the Ardennes for the relief of Bazaine at Metz, he was surprised and de- feated at Beaumont, Aug. 30. MacMahon was paralyzed, and the capitulation of Sedan ter- minated the career of Failly. While a prisoner of war he attempted in his Marches et opera- tions du 5 me corps (Brussels, 1871) to refute the charges brought against him. FAIR (Lat. fvria, a day of rest, a holiday), a gathering for the purchase and sale of goods,