Born in Portland, Maine, Fernald graduated from Harvard University in 1860, where he won the Bowdoin Prize,[1] and from Newton Theological Institution in 1863.
[1] In 1864 he was ordained to the Baptist ministry, and in the next 27 years held pastorates at Rutland, Vermont, Waterville, Maine, and Granville, McConnellsville, Clyde, Galion, Springfield, and Garrettsville, Ohio.
In 1889 he became a member of the staff of Funk & Wagnalls, and from 1905 to 1909 was dean of the staff of the Intercontinental University,[3] in Washington, D.C.[2] In the preparation of The Standard Dictionary, Fernald was editor of synonyms, antonyms, and prepositions, and he was editor-in-chief of the Students' Standard Dictionary and other abridgments.
A review stated: "Expressive English" is the apt title of a volume on the language by Dr. James C. Fernald.
It might be supposed that a volume of this character would have a text-book dryness, but it can be said it the outset that it is interestingly written, and is sure to hold the attention of lovers of the language.