Exhibit 24
[FMC CORPORATION LETTERHEAD]


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                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
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KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, FMC CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to
as the "Company"), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
a Registration Statement on Form S-8 and amendments thereto under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to stock options and/or other awards
granted or to be granted under the FMC 1997 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee
Directors and the shares of common stock of the Company which may be issued
pursuant to said Plan awards; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned holds and may hereafter from time to time hold one
or more positions in the Corporation whether as an Officer, a Director, or both,
such that the undersigned may be required or permitted in such capacity or
capacities, or on behalf of the Corporation, to sign one or more of such
documents;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints W.J.
Kirby, J.P. McGrath, R.L. Day and C.M. Smith, or any of them, his or her
attorney for him and in his or her name, place and stead, and in each of his or
her offices and capacities in the Company as may now or hereafter exist, to sign
and file said Registration Statement and any and all amendments, schedules and
exhibits thereto, hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and
authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he or she might or could do if personally present at the doing
thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall
lawfully do, or cause to be done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his or her hand as of
the 14th day of February, 1997.

                                      
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