Background
He was the second son of Edward Forster the elder and his wife Susanna, and was born in Walbrook, London, on 16 January 1764.
He was the second son of Edward Forster the elder and his wife Susanna, and was born in Walbrook, London, on 16 January 1764.
He was educated with his brothers Edward Forster the younger and Thomas Furly Forster at Walthamstow, and became a member of the firm of Edward Forster & Sons, Russia merchants, but took little interest in business.
He also joined societies for the suppression of climbing chimney-sweepers, for diffusing knowledge about capital punishments, for affording refuge to the destitute, and for repressing cruelty to animals, being conscientiously opposed to field sports. He also framed the child-stealing acting
He was one of the earliest advocates of slave emancipation, and one of the first members of the committee of 1788 against the slave trade.