Chapter Faber to Fenton of F by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Faber to Fenton

Faber, Frederick William (1814-1863).—Theologian and hymn-writer, was born at Claverley, Yorkshire, and educated at Harrow and Oxford, where he came under the influence of Newman, whom he followed into the Church of Rome. He wrote various theological treatises, but has a place in literature for his hymns, which include The Pilgrims of the Night, My God how wonderful thou art, and Sweet Saviour, bless us ere we go.

Fabyan, Robert (died 1513).—Chronicler, was born in London, of which he became an Alderman and Sheriff. He kept a diary of notable events, which he expanded into a chronicle, which he entitled, The Concordance of Histories. It covers the period from the arrival of Brutus in England to the death of Henry VII., and deals mainly with the affairs of London. It was not printed until 1515, when it appeared under the title of The New Chronicles of England and France.

Fairfax, Edward (1580?-1635).—Translator, natural son of Sir Thomas Fairfax, lived at Fuystone, near Knaresborough, in peace and prosperity. His translation of Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, on which his fame is founded, is a masterpiece, one of the comparatively few translations which in themselves are literature. It was highly praised by Dryden and Waller. The first edition appeared in 1600, and was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. Fairfax also wrote a treatise on Demonology, in which he was a devout believer.

Falconer, William (1732-1769).—Poet, son of a barber in Edinburgh, where he was born, became a sailor, and was thus thoroughly competent to describe the management of the storm-tossed vessel, the career and fate of which are described in his poem, The Shipwreck (1762), a work of genuine, though unequal, talent. The efforts which Falconer made to improve the poem in the successive edition which followed the first were not entirely successful. The work gained for him the patronage of the Duke of York, through whose influence he obtained the position of purser on various warships. Strangely enough, his own death occurred by shipwreck. Falconer wrote other poems, now forgotten, besides a useful Nautical Dictionary.

Fanshawe, Catherine Maria (1765-1834).—Poetess, daughter of a Surrey squire, wrote clever occasional verse. Her best known production is the famous Riddle on the Letter H, beginning “ ’Twas whispered in heaven, ’twas muttered in hell” often attributed to Lord Byron.

Fanshawe, Sir Richard (1608-1666).—Diplomatist, translator, and poet, born at Ware Park, Herts, and educated at Cambridge, travelled on the Continent, and when the Civil War broke out sided with the King and was sent to Spain to obtain money for the cause. He acted as Latin secretray to Charles II. when in Holland. After the Restoration he held various appointments, and was Ambassador to Portugal and Spain successively. He translated Guarini’s Pastor Fido, Selected Parts of Horace, and The Lusiad of Camoens. His wife, née Anne Harrison, wrote memoirs of her own life.

Faraday, Michael (1791-1867).—Natural philosopher, son of a blacksmith, was born in London, and apprenticed to a book-binder. He early showed a taste for chemistry, and attended the lectures of Sir H. Davy (q.v.), by whom he was, in 1813, appointed his chemical assistant in the Royal Institution. He became one of the greatest of British discoverers and popularisers of science, his discoveries being chiefly in the department of electro-magnetism. He had an unusual power of making difficult subjects clearly understood. Among his writings are History of the Progress of Electro-Magnetism (1821), The Non-metallic Elements, The Chemical History of a Candle, and The Various Forces in Nature. Faraday was a man of remarkable simplicity and benevolence of character, and deeply religious.

Farmer, Richard (1735-1797).—Shakespearian scholar, born at Leicester, and educated at Cambridge, where he ultimately became Master of Emanuel College He wrote an Essay on the Learning of Shakespeare (1767), in which he maintained that Shakespeare’s knowledge of the classics was through translations, the errors of which he reproduced. It is a production of great ability. Farmer was a clergyman, and held a prebend in St. Paul’s.

Farquhar, George (1678-1707).—Dramatist, born at Londonderry, son of a clergyman, and educated at Trinity Coll., Dublin, on leaving which he took to the stage, but had no great success as an actor. This,