Robert Forster (Quaker)

Robert Forster (1791 – 11 October 1873) was a British Quaker. He was a surveyor, an estate manager and an abolitionist. He took a lifelong interest in education. He was cared for by his younger sister Anne Forster who died three days after him. He had notable brothers as well as sisters Mary Forster and Sarah Forster who were leading Quakers.

Robert Forster
in the centre (to the left Barbadian hero Samuel Jackman Prescod and to the right Jean-Baptiste Symphor Linstant de Pradine from Haiti)
Born1791
Died11 October 1873(1873-10-11) (aged 81–82)
NationalityBritish
Known forAbolitionist who visited France, Holland and Russia to gain support

Life

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Robert Forster was born in 1791 into a well known Quaker family. He was one of the ten children of Elizabeth (born Hayward) and William Forster. His father was a schoolmaster who became a land surveyor.[1]

His sisters and his brothers William and Josiah were very active doing good works and it was Robert who turned his attention's to the family's surveying business. He was also employed by the Earl of Darnley before he became an Earl as his steward. His employer had plans for the village of Northfleet in Kent and Forster was empowered to employ builders to extend Northfleet.[1]

He was a member of the British and Foreign School Society[2] and served on their committee for all of his life starting in 1817.[1]


 Isaac Crewdson (Beaconite) writerSamuel Jackman Prescod - Barbadian JournalistWilliam Morgan from BirminghamWilliam Forster - Quaker leaderGeorge Stacey - Quaker leaderWilliam Forster - Anti-Slavery ambassadorJohn Burnet -Abolitionist SpeakerWilliam Knibb -Missionary to JamaicaJoseph Ketley from GuyanaGeorge Thompson - UK & US abolitionistJ. Harfield Tredgold - British South African (secretary)Josiah Forster - Quaker leaderSamuel Gurney - the Banker's BankerSir John Eardley-WilmotDr Stephen Lushington - MP and JudgeSir Thomas Fowell BuxtonJames Gillespie Birney - AmericanJohn BeaumontGeorge Bradburn - Massachusetts politicianGeorge William Alexander - Banker and TreasurerBenjamin Godwin - Baptist activistVice Admiral MoorsonWilliam TaylorWilliam TaylorJohn MorrisonGK PrinceJosiah ConderJoseph SoulJames Dean (abolitionist)John Keep - Ohio fund raiserJoseph EatonJoseph Sturge - Organiser from BirminghamJames WhitehorneJoseph MarriageGeorge BennettRichard AllenStafford AllenWilliam Leatham, bankerWilliam BeaumontSir Edward Baines - JournalistSamuel LucasFrancis Augustus CoxAbraham BeaumontSamuel Fox, Nottingham grocerLouis Celeste LecesneJonathan BackhouseSamuel BowlyWilliam Dawes - Ohio fund raiserRobert Kaye Greville - BotanistJoseph Pease - reformer in India)W.T.BlairM.M. Isambert (sic)Mary Clarkson -Thomas Clarkson's daughter in lawWilliam TatumSaxe Bannister - PamphleteerRichard Davis Webb - IrishNathaniel Colver - Americannot knownJohn Cropper - Most generous LiverpudlianThomas ScalesWilliam JamesWilliam WilsonThomas SwanEdward Steane from CamberwellWilliam BrockEdward BaldwinJonathon MillerCapt. Charles Stuart from JamaicaSir John Jeremie - JudgeCharles Stovel - BaptistRichard Peek, ex-Sheriff of LondonJohn SturgeElon GalushaCyrus Pitt GrosvenorRev. Isaac BassHenry SterryPeter Clare -; sec. of Literary & Phil. Soc. ManchesterJ.H. JohnsonThomas PriceJoseph ReynoldsSamuel WheelerWilliam BoultbeeDaniel O'Connell - "The Liberator"William FairbankJohn WoodmarkWilliam Smeal from GlasgowJames Carlile - Irish Minister and educationalistRev. Dr. Thomas BinneyEdward Barrett - Freed slaveJohn Howard Hinton - Baptist ministerJohn Angell James - clergymanJoseph CooperDr. Richard Robert Madden - IrishThomas BulleyIsaac HodgsonEdward SmithSir John Bowring - diplomat and linguistJohn EllisC. Edwards Lester - American writerTapper Cadbury - Businessmannot knownThomas PinchesDavid Turnbull - Cuban linkEdward AdeyRichard BarrettJohn SteerHenry TuckettJames Mott - American on honeymoonRobert Forster (brother of William and Josiah)Richard RathboneJohn BirtWendell Phillips - AmericanJean-Baptiste Symphor Linstant de Pradine from HaitiHenry Stanton - AmericanProf William AdamMrs Elizabeth Tredgold - British South AfricanT.M. McDonnellMrs John BeaumontAnne Knight - FeministElizabeth Pease - SuffragistJacob Post - Religious writerAnne Isabella, Lady Byron - mathematician and estranged wifeAmelia Opie - Novelist and poetMrs Rawson - Sheffield campaignerThomas Clarkson's grandson Thomas ClarksonThomas MorganThomas Clarkson - main speakerGeorge Head Head - Banker from CarlisleWilliam AllenJohn ScobleHenry Beckford - emancipated slave and abolitionistUse your cursor to explore (or Click "i" to enlarge)
Forster is on the right of centre, but obscured, near the front in this painting which is of the 1840 Anti-Slavery Convention.[3] Move your cursor to identify him or click icon to enlarge

A picture was commissioned that showed the delegates, including Robert Forster, of the new British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society which was formed in 1839. The painting captured this important international convention in June 1840.[3] Also in the foreground of this painting are Robert's brothers, William and Josiah amongst other significant figures. This new society's aim was "The universal extinction of slavery and the slave trade and the protection of the rights and interests of the enfranchised population in the British possessions and of all persons captured as slaves."

Forster was a member of deputations to gather support for the complete end to slavery sent to European governments after a Quaker meeting in 1856. Robert went to Paris in 1856 and the following year he went to both Germany and the Netherlands. In 1858 he travelled still further to northern Europe including Russia.[1]

Robert's interest in education saw him involved with a Quaker school at Croydon, at Ackworth School and at Grove House School in Tottenham. He wanted to ensure that science was an important part of their teaching.[1]

Robert was unable to care for himself when he was older and he was cared for by Anne Forster who was one of his philanthropists sisters. She had been born in 1797 and had published "To Butchers, their Men and Boys". His other sisters were Mary and Sarah. Mary lived in Devon for a long time but on her return home she visited women prisoners and in 1837 was appointed an elder in Tottenham. Sarah became a minister in 1848. Robert died on 11 October 1873 and Anne died three days later.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Forster, Robert (1791–1873)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. p. 18. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/46949. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 11 December 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ Quaker History. Friends Historical Association. 1995.
  3. ^ a b "The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840". London: National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Forster, Anne (1797–1873)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/46950. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 12 December 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)