William Forster (philanthropist)

William Forster
William between two fellow abolitionists (George Stacey and William Morgan) in a detail from a painting.[1]
BornMarch 23, 1784[1]
DiedJanuary 27, 1854(1854-01-27) (aged 69)[1]
Resting placeFriendsville, Tennessee
NationalityEnglish
Occupation(s)Preacher and abolitionist
Known forSlavery abolitionist
Spouse(s)1.Rachel Wilson
2.Sarah Dillworth[4]
ChildrenWilliam Edward
ParentWilliam Forster (1747–1824)and Elizabeth Hayward (1759–1837)[4]
RelativesJosiah Forster (brother), Elizabeth Fry Sister-in-law

William Forster (23 March 1784 – 27 January 1854)[4] was a preacher, Quaker elder and a fervent abolitionist. He was an early member of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society in 1839.[1] It was William and Stephen Grellet who introduced Elizabeth Fry to her life's work with prisons, but it was William's brother, Josiah, who accompanied Fry on her tour and inspection of prisons in France.[5]

  1. ^ a b c d National Portrait Gallery
  2. ^ Tottenham Quakers History, accessed 14 July 2008
  3. ^ Friendly Sketches in America by William Tallack
  4. ^ a b c Edward H. Milligan, ‘Forster, William (1784–1854)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9925 (subscription required for online access). Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  5. ^ Elizabeth Fry by ER Pitman