Field, Matthew C. (1812-1844), a contributor to many southern journals from 1834 till the time of his death.
Fields, James Thomas (1817-1881). He edited the Atlantic Monthly for eleven years, and wrote several volumes of prose and clever humorous verse. He was partner in the publishing house of Ticknor & Fields.
Finn, Henry J. (1782-1840), an actor, miniature painter, and humorist. He was lost in the burning of the steamer Lexington.
Folger, Peter (1617-1690), grandfather of Benjamin Franklin, published a satirical attack on the follies of the day, under the extensive title of A Looking-glass for the Times; or, the Former Spirit of New England Revised in this Generation.
Foss, Sam Walter (1858), editor of the Yankee Blade. Although his poems are as widely quoted on one side the Atlantic as the other, they have not yet appeared in book form in England.
Franklin, Benjamin (1706-1790) It is difficult to say what Franklin was not, and there can be no question of his being the best-informed man of his day. Along with his other virtues, he was a humorist, and sparkling witty in conversation and writing. He was the first American to achieve cosmopolitan fame as a writer.
Freneau, Philip (1752-1832). He commenced to write poetry before he left college, and continued to do so all his life. As a consequence, his published works are many. His reputation as a humorist rests to a great extent on “A Journey from Philadelphia to New York, by Robert Slender, Stocking-Weaver,” published 1787.
Goldsmith, Jay Charlton, the “P.I. Man” of the New York Herald, and the author of the “Jay Charlton” papers which appeared in the Danbury News.
Graydon, Alexander (1752-1818). Graydon served in the War of Independence, was taken prisoner; when peace was restored was appointed to a government office, which he held for many years. He wrote his memoirs, and was an epigrammatist of note.
Green, Joseph (1706-1780), a writer of verse, chiefly parody. His “Poet’s Lament for the Loss of his Cat, which he used to call his Mews,” published in the London Magazine, 1733, and “The Wonderful Lament of Old Mr. Tenor,” are the most notable of his productions. He died in England.