Noldorin prince, only son of Finwë by his first wife, Míriel. The mightiest of the Noldor and in many ways the grestest of the Children of Ilúvatar, especially in skill of mind and hands, Fëanor was unfortunately as quick to pride, jealousy, and anger as to invention. In Eldamar he married Nerdanel, who bore him seven sons and restrained the excesses of his passion. During this time, the Noontide of Valinor, Fëanor, instructed by his father-in-law Mahtan and by Aulë, made his great inventions: the Tengwar, and the art of fabricating gems and crystals, especially the Silmarilli and perhaps also the Palantíri.
But Melkor, coveting the Silmarils, sowed dissension between Fëanor and his half-brother Fingolfin, until at last Fëanor spoke against the Valar and drew a sword on Fingolfin. For this he was banished from Tirion for twelve years, although he was reconciled with Fingolfin. Even though he saw through the plots of Melkor, Fëanorremained distrustful of the Valar and grew excessively fond of the Silmarils; when the Two Trees were poisoned he refused to give up the Silmarils which preserved their light. But when he heard the further tragedy of Melkor's murder of Finwë and theft of the Silmarils, Fëanor resolved to return to Middle-earth in pursuit of Melkor, defying the Valar and swearing the terrible Oath of Fëanor, by which he, his sons, and Beleriand were later doomed. Undeterred by the banishment of Manwë and the Doom of Mandos, the fey Fëanor led the Noldor forth, in his haste and pride instigating the Kinslaying at Alqualondë and the desertion of Fingolfin in Araman.
In Middle-earth Fëanor immediately won Dagor-nuin-Giliath, but in his wrath he recklessly pursued the fleeing Orcs in Dor Daedeloth, where he was overwhelmed by Balrogs and fatally wounded. Although rescued by his sons, he died near Eithel Sirion, he who brought the Noldor 'their greatest renown and their most grievous woe'.
His birth-name was Curufinwë, he was called Fëanor (from the Quenya Fëanáro, the name given him by Míriel) because of the burning spirit evident within him.

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