The son of Charles Fearne, judge-advocate of the Admiralty, he was born in London, and was educated at Westminster School.
[1] Fearne adopted the legal profession, but devoted time and money to experiments: he saw a commercial application to morocco leather, and designed a musket.
"[1] His Essay on the Learning of Contingent Remainders and Executory Devises, the work which has made his reputation as a legal authority, and which passed through numerous editions, was called forth by a decision of Lord Mansfield in the case of Perrin v. Blake, and had the effect of reversing that decision.
[2] An edition in 1797 was by his former pupil John Joseph Powell,[3] and the Essay on the Nature and Operation of Fines and Recoveries (1783) by William Cruise was inspired by Contingent Remainders.
[4] A volume entitled Fearne's Posthumous Works was published by subscription in 1797 for the benefit of his widow.