Robert Forster (1791 – 11 October 1873) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

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.

Life

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. His sisters and his brothers

William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

and

Josiah Josiah ( or ) or Yoshiyahu; la, Iosias was the 16th king of Judah (–609 BCE) who, according to the Hebrew Bible, instituted major religious reforms by removing official worship of gods other than Yahweh. Josiah is credited by most biblical s ...

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 Earl of Darnley is a hereditary title that has been created three times, twice in the Peerage of Scotland and once in the Peerage of Ireland. The first creation in the Scots Peerage came in 1580 in favour of Esme Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox, ...

before he became an Earl as his steward. His employer had plans for the village of

Northfleet Northfleet is a town in the borough of Gravesham in Kent, England. It is located immediately west of Gravesend, and on the border with the Borough of Dartford. Northfleet has its own railway station on the North Kent Line, just east of Ebbsfl ...

in Kent and Forster was empowered to employ builders to extend Northfleet. He was a member of the

British and Foreign School Society The British and Foreign School Society (BFSS) offers charitable aid to educational projects in the UK and around the world by funding schools, other charities and educational bodies. It was significant in the history of education in England, suppor ...

and served on their committee for all of his life starting in 1817. A picture was commissioned that showed the delegates, including Robert Forster, of the new

British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

which was formed in 1839. The painting captured this important international convention in June 1840. 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. Robert's interest in education saw him involved with a Quaker school at Croydon, at

Ackworth School Ackworth School is an independent day and boarding school located in the village of High Ackworth, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. It is one of seven Quaker schools in England. The school (or more accurately its Head) is a member ...

and at

Grove House School Grove House School was a Quaker school in Tottenham, United Kingdom. School The school was established in 1828 as a boarding school for 75 boys of the Quaker community, initially under Thomas Binns. One of its founders was Josiah Forster, who ...

in Tottenham. He wanted to ensure that science was an important part of their teaching. 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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Forster, Robert British Quakers 1791 births 1873 deaths 19th-century British philanthropists Committee members of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge