FERGUSSON, ROBERT (1750-1774).--Scottish poet, _s._ of a bank clerk, was _ed._ at the Univ. of St. Andrews. His _f._ dying, he became a copying clerk in an Edin. lawyer's office. Early displaying a talent for humorous descriptive verse, he contributed to _Ruddiman's Weekly Magazine_, then the principal Scottish receptacle for fugitive poetry. His verses, however, attracted attention by their merit, and he _pub._ some of them in a _coll._ form. Unfortunately he fell into dissipated habits, under which his delicate constitution gave way, and he _d._ insane in his 24th year. His poems influenced Burns, who greatly admired them. FERRIER, JAMES FREDERICK (1808-1864).--Metaphysician, _b._ in Edin., and _ed._ there and at Oxf., he was called to the Scottish Bar in 1832, but devoted himself to literature and philosophy. In 1842 he was appointed Prof. of History in Edin., and in 1845 translated to the Chair of Moral Philosophy and Political Economy at St. Andrews. He _pub._ in 1854 _Institutes of Metaphysics_, and ed. the _coll._ works of his father-in-law, Prof. Wilson ("Christopher North.") FERRIER, SUSAN EDMONSTOUNE (1782-1854).--Novelist, _dau._ of James F., one of the principal clerks of the Court of Session, in which office he was the colleague of Sir Walter Scott. Miss F. wrote three excellent novels, _Marriage_ (1818), _The Inheritance_ (1824), and _Destiny_ (1831), all characterised by racy humour and acute character-painting. Her cheerful and tactful friendship helped to soothe the last days of Sir W. Scott. FIELD, NATHANIEL (1587-1633).--Dramatist and actor, was one of "the children of the Queen's Revels," who performed in Ben Jonson's _Cynthia's Revels_ in 1600. He wrote _A Woman's a Weathercock_ (1612), _Amends for Ladies_ (1618), and (with Massinger) _The Fatal Dowry_ (1632).