(1796-1886), an American inventor, born at Brimfield, Mass. When a young man he removed to Saint Johns-bury, Vt., and entered into partnership with his brother, in the manufacture of stoves, plows and other iron implements. His first skill as an inventor was made known through the invention of a stove, which was much more convenient and useful than any pattern that had preceded it. He also patented a cast iron plow that was considerably in advance of other implements of the sort; but his fame rests on the invention of the platform scale, which so completely met universal demand for weighing heavy commodities that the company gave their entire attention to the manufacture of this and other scales of numerous patterns, most of which were invented by Mr. Fairbanks. At the time of his death he was at the head of the largest scale manufactory in the world. His scales found use in every civilized country, and in recognition of the benefit which he had conferred upon commerce, numerous ranks and titles were bestowed upon him and he was the recipient of medals from many foreign lands. He was the founder of Saint Johns-bury Academy, which he liberally endowed.