Fresnel, August In

JEAN, an eminent French natural philosopher, в. 1788. Не was educated at the Ecole Poly technique, and early devoted himself to the practice of civil-engineering. In 1815 he became distinguished as the discoverer of the polarization of light, and in 1823 was elected a member of the Academy. The result of his great discovery is shown in the system of lens lighting apparatus, which has changed the mode of lighthouse illumination over the whole world, and is universally known as the "Fresnel system." In 1825 F. was elected F.R.S. of London, and in 1827 received the Rumford medal of the Society. D. 1827. Fres'no, in California , a S. central co.; area, 8,010 sq. m.; surface , greatly diversified and largely mountainous; soil , fertile in valleys. Pop . (1890) 32,026. Cap. Fresno. -A city, cap. of above co., on S. Pac. R.R., 206 m. S.E. of San Francisco; has extensive manuf., and a large trade with the rich agricultural region surrounding. Pop. (1897) about 12,600.