Forlong (James George Roche). Major General, H.B.A., b. Lanarkshire, Scotland, Nov. 1824. Educated as an engineer, joined the Indian army ’43, fought in the S. Mahrata campaign ’45–6, and in the second Burmese war. On the annexation of Barma he became head of the Survey, Roads and canal branches. In ’58–9 he travelled extensively through Egypt, Palestine, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, etc. From ’61–71 was a superintending engineer of Calcutta, and in Upper Bengal, North-west Provinces, and Rajputana, and ’72–76 was Secretary and Chief Engineer to the Government of Oudh. He retired in ’77 after an active service of 33 years, during which he frequently received the thanks of the Indian and Home Governments. In his youth he was an active Evangelical, preaching to the natives in their own tongues. He has, however, given his testimony that during his long experience he has known no one converted solely by force of reasoning or “Christian evidences.” A great student of Eastern religions, archæology, and languages, he has written in various periodicals of the East and West, and has embodied the result of many years researches in two illustrated quarto volumes called Rivers of Life, setting forth the evolution of all religions from their radical objective basis to their present spiritualised developments. In an elaborate chart he shows by streams of color the movements of thought from 10,000 B.C. to the present time.
Fourier (François Marie Charles), French socialist, b. Besançon, 7 April, 1772. He passed some of the early years of his life as a common soldier. His numerous works amid much that is visionary have valuable criticisms upon society, and suggestions for its amelioration. He believed in the transmigration of souls. Died at Paris, 8 Oct. 1837.
Fox (William Johnson), orator and political writer, b. near Wrentham, Suffolk, 1786. Intended for the Congregational Ministry, he became a Unitarian, and for many years preached at South Place, Finsbury, where he introduced the plan of taking texts from other books besides the Bible. One of his first published sermons was on behalf of toleration for Deists at the time of the Carlile prosecutions 1819. He gradually advanced from the acceptance of miracles to their complete rejection. During the Anti-Corn Law agitation he was a frequent and able speaker. In 1847 he became M.P. for Oldham, and retained his seat until his retirement in ’61. He was a prominent worker for Radicalism, contributing to the Westminster Review, Weekly Dispatch, and Daily News. For some years he edited the Monthly Repository. His works, which include spirited Lectures to the Working Classes, and a philosophical statement of Religions Ideas, were published in twelve volumes, ’65–68. Died 3 June, 1864.
“Franchi (Ausonio),” the pen name of Francesco Cristoforo Bonavino, Italian ex-priest, b. Pegli, 24 Feb. 1821. Brought up in the Church and ordained priest in ’44, the practice of the confessional made him sceptical and he quitted it for philosophy, having ceased to believe in its dogmas, ’49. In ’52 he published his principal work, entitled The Philosophy of the Italian Schools. The following year he published The Religion of the Nineteenth Century. He established La Razione (Reason) and Il Libero Pensiero at Turin, ’54–57; wrote on the Rationalism of the People, Geneva, ’56, and became an active organiser of anti-clerical societies. In ’66 he published a criticism of Positivism, and has since written Critical and Polemical Essays, 3 vols. Milan, ’70–72. In ’68 was appointed Professor of Philosophy in the Academy of Milan by Terenzio Mamiani.
Francis (Samuel), M.D., author of Watson Refuted, published by Carlile, 1819.
Francois de Neufchateau (Nicolas Louis), Count, French statesman, poet, and academician, b. Lorraine, 17 April, 1750. In his youth he became secretary to Voltaire, who regarded him as his successor. He favored the Revolution, and was elected to the Legislative Assembly in ’91. As Member of the Directory, ’97, he circulated d’Holbach’s Contagion Sacrée. He became President of the Senate, ’14–16. He wrote numerous pieces. Died at Paris 10 Jan. 1828.
Franklin (Benjamin), American patriot and philosopher, b. Boston 17 Jan. 1706. He was apprenticed to his uncle as a printer, came to England and worked at his trade ’24–26; returned to Philadelphia, where he published a paper and became known by his Poor Richard’s Almanack. He founded the public library at Philadelphia, and made the discovery of the identity of lightning with the electric fluid. He became member of the Provincial Assembly and was sent to England as agent. When examined before the House of Commons he spoke boldly against the Stamp Act. He was active during the war with this country, and was elected member of Congress. Became envoy to France, and effected the treaty of alliance with that country, 6 Feb. ’78, which secured the independence of the American colonies. Turgot summed up his services in the fine line Eripuit cælo fulmen, sceptrumque tyrannis. “He wrested the thunderbolt from heaven and the sceptre from kings.” Died at Philadelphia, 17 April, 1790.
Fransham (John), a native of Norwich, b. 1730, became a teacher of mathematics, renounced the Christian religion, and professed Paganism, writing several treatises in favor of disbelief. Died 1810.
Frauenstaedt (Christian Martin Julius), Dr., philosopher and disciple of Schopenhauer, b. 17 April, 1813, at Bojanowo, Posen. He studied philosophy and theology at Berlin, but meeting Schopenhauer at Frankfort in ’47 he adopted the views of the pessimist, who made him his literary executor. Among Frauenstädt’s works are Letters on Natural Religion, ’58, The Liberty of Men and the Personality of God, ’38; Letters on the Philosophy of Schopenhauer, ’54, etc. Died at Berlin, 13 Jan. 1879.
Frederick II. (Emperor of Germany), the greatest man of the thirteenth century and founder of the Renaissance, b. 26 Dec. 1194. Was elected to the throne in 1210. He promoted learning, science, and art, founded the Universities of Vienna and Naples, had the works of Aristotle and Averroes translated, and was the patron of all the able men of his time. For his resistance to the tyranny of the Church he was twice excommunicated. He answered by a letter attacking the Pope (Gregory IX.), whom he expelled from Rome in ’28. He made a treaty with the Sultan of Egypt, by which he became master of Jerusalem. For some heretical words in his letter, in which he associates the names of Christ, Moses, and Mohammed, he was reported author of the famous work De Tribus Impostoribus. He addressed a series of philosophical questions to Ibn Sabin, a Moslem doctor. He is said to have called the Eucharist truffa ista, and is credited also with the saying “Ignorance is the mother of devotion.” Died at Florence, 13 Dec. 1250.