FOURDRINIER MA CHINE, a paper-making machine, the first to make a continuous web. It was invented by Louis Robert, of Essonne, and patented by him in France. A Mr. Gamble and the brothers Fourdrinier improved it. The machine was perfected by others. See PAPER.
FOURIER, Francois Charles Marie, French social economist: b. Besancon, 7 April 1772; d. Paris, 10 Oct. 1837. He studied at the college in his native town, and obtained a mercantile position at Rouen; he later entered into business on his own account at Lyons, hav ing inherited a small fortune from his father, but the siege of the city by the troops of the convention in 1793 and the subsequent dis orders were fatal to his prosperity; he was ar rested and kept a prisoner for some time, and afterward served two years in the Revolu tionary army, being discharged in 1796 because of failing health. While employed at Mar seilles, in 1799, his employers retained a cargo of rice in order to keep up the price, and when it became unfit for use ordered Fourier to throw it into the sea. This experience led
him to question the righteousness of the exist ing industrial system and to develop his own social theory known as Fourierism (q.v.). He first published
des quatre mouve ments et des destinees generales) (1808), in which he explained the basis of his
which he developed more completely in