FORSTER, JOHN (1770-1843).—­Essayist, was b. at Halifax, and ed. at Bristol for the Baptist ministry.  Though a man of powerful and original mind he did not prove popular as a preacher, and devoted himself mainly to literature, his chief contribution to which is his four Essays (1) On a Man’s Writing Memoirs of Himself, (2) On Decision of Character, (3) On the Epithet “Romantic,” (4) On Evangelical Religion, etc., all of which attracted much attention among the more thoughtful part of the community, and still hold their place.  These Essays were pub. in 1805, and in 1819.  F. added another on the Evils of Popular Ignorance, in which he advocated a national system of education.

FOSTER, STEPHEN COLLINS (1826-1864).—­Song-writer, was b. in Pittsburgh.  He wrote over 100 songs, many of which had extraordinary popularity, among which may be mentioned The Old Folks at Home, Nelly Bly, Old Dog Tray, Camp Town Races, Massa’s in de cold, cold Ground, and Come where my Love lies Dreaming.  He composed the music to his songs.

FOX, CHARLES JAMES (1749-1806).—­Statesman and historian, s. of Henry F., 1st Lord Holland, was one of the greatest orators who have ever sat in the House of Commons.  His only serious literary work was a fragment of a proposed History of the Reign of James the Second.  An introductory chapter sketching the development of the constitution from the time of Henry VII., and a few chapters conducting the history up to the execution of Monmouth are all which he completed.

FOX, GEORGE (1624-1691).—­Religious enthusiast, and founder of the Society of Friends, b. at Drayton, Leicestershire, was in youth the subject of peculiar religious impressions and trances, and adopted a wandering life.  The protests which he conceived himself bound to make against the prevailing beliefs and manners, and which sometimes took the form of interrupting Divine service, and the use of uncomplimentary forms of address to the clergy, involved him in frequent trouble.  The clergy, the magistrates, and the mob alike treated him with harshness amounting to persecution.  None of these things, however, moved him, and friends, many of them influential, among them Oliver Cromwell, extended favour towards him.  From 1659 onwards he made various missionary journeys in Scotland, Ireland, America, and Holland.  Later he was repeatedly imprisoned, again visited the Continent, and d. in 1691.  F.’s literary works are his Journal, Epistles, and Doctrinal Pieces.  He was not a man of strong intellect, and the defence of his doctrines was undertaken by the far more competent hand of his follower, Barclay (q.v.).  The Journal, however, is full of interest as a sincere transcript of the singular experiences, religious and others, of a spiritual enthusiast and mystic.

The best Life is that by Hodgkin, 1896. Journal (reprint, 1885).