Stats
Birth: T.A. 2983 (36 in the War of the Ring)
Death: F.A. 3103 (at 120 years)
Race: Men
Titles: Lord of Emyn Arnen, Prince of Ithilien, Steward of Gondor
Parents: Denethor II and Finduilas
Spouse: Éowyn, white Lady of Rohan and later white Lady of Ithilien
Offspring: 1 son, Elboron

Captain's Tale
Faramir was born with a little Elvish blood mixed into his system. His mother was Finduilas, the daughter of Prince Adrahil of Dol Amroth (Adrahil was presumably also the father of Imrahil). Adrahil was a long descendant of Galador, who was the first Prince of Dol Amroth. Galador was the son of the Numenorean, Imrazor and Silvian elf Mithrellas.

As a result, he has many admirable and kingly qualities approved of by all save, it seems, his father, the Steward of Gondor, Denethor II. (For more information on Denethor's earlier relationship with his son, visit the History of Middle Earth section).

During the retreat from Osgiliath to Minas Tirith, Faramir was wounded. He was brought to his father, who became mad with grief and looked into the Palantir of Minas Tirith, foreseeing the coming of Aragorn. He took Faramir to be burned along with himself, on his pyre, but Faramir was saved both by Pippin, who alerts Gandalf, and by his loyal guard Beregond. He was brought to the Houses of Healing and was cured by Aragorn. There he met and fell in love with Éowyn, King Éomer of Rohan's sister.

In the brief period between his father's death and surrendering his rule to the King Elessar, he was the last and 27th ruling Steward of Gondor. After the War of the Ring, Faramir was given by the King Elessar the lands of Ithilien to be his princedom. He married Éowyn, white Lady of Rohan, and they settled at Emyn Arnen near the river Anduin. Faramir's Gardens were designed by Legolas, and were said to be the most beautiful in the land.

Brave Heart
I won't describe Faramir in my own words as I would do his character no justice. The quotes section gives a good idea of others' impressions of Faramir. Here is a brief description of Faramir from the appendices of Return of the King by Tolkien:

"Faramir the younger was like [Boromir] in looks but otherwise in mind. He read the hearts of men as shrewdly as his father, but what he read moved him sooner to pity than to scorn. He was gentle in bearing, and a lover of lore and of music, and therefore by many in those days his courage was judged less than his brother's. But it was not so, except that he did not seek glory in danger without a purpose. He welcomed Gandalf at such times as he came to the City, and he learned what he could from his wisdom, and in this as in many other matters he displeased his father."

Brother
Faramir's brother, Boromir, was a member of the Fellowship of Nine before he was slain by orcs. There is only one account of them together in the book, which Boromir tells to the Council of Elrond:

"This very year, in the days of June, sudden war came upon us out of Mordor, and we were swept away. We were outnumbered... only a remnant of our eastern forces came back, destroying the last bridge that still stood amid the ruins of Osgiliath. I was in the company that held the bridge, until it was cast down behind us. Four only were saved by swimming: my brother and myself and two others."

In the appendices of The Return of the King, Tolkien noted:

"Between the brothers there was great love, and had been since childhood, when Boromir was the helper and protector of Faramir. No jealousy or rivalry had arisen between them since, for their father's favour or for the praise of men. It did not seem possible to Faramir that any one in Gondor could rival Boromir, heir of Denethor."

Even in their older years, Boromir seems to maintain his role of "protector" of Faramir. At The Council of Elrond, he proclaims "my brother, seeing how desperate was our need, was eager to heed the dream and seek for Imladris; but since the way was full of doubt and danger, I took the journey upon myself."

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