Ferney, Or Fernex, a town of France, in the department of Ain, on the frontier of Switzerland, at the foot of the Jura mountains, 5 m. N. W. of Geneva; pop. about 1,200. It was a place of refuge for the Huguenots during the era of religious persecution in France, and was for 20 years the residence of Voltaire. When he bought the land, about 1758, Ferney was a miserable hamlet, consisting only of a few hovels. By his exertions it became a prosperous town, with nearly 1,500 inhabitants. He drained and cultivated the adjacent grounds, and caused Geneva watchmakers and other industrious artisans to settle there, while the constant concourse of visitors and travellers contributed to enhance the general prosperity. The death of Voltaire proved disastrous to the industry of the place, the persons employed in the manufacture of Watches being reduced from 800 to about 200. The chateau in which he lived has undergone many alterations, so that few relics of him remain. Adjoining the chateau are two small edifices, one the theatre and the other the church built by Voltaire. Upon the porch of the latter is the following inscription: Deo erexit Vol-tarius. In front of the chateau is the mausoleum which he had built with the utmost attention to artistic execution.

Clarence Peak, Fernando Po.