Foster, Sir M. (Michael), (1836-1907)

Material formerly held in the Western Manuscripts Department's Autograph Letters Sequence. Includes undated items.

1881-1901

31 pieces

Presented by Mrs. Fothergill, September 1927 (acc.67370); Purchased from R.V. Westcott, May 1927 (acc.45498), Sotheby's, London, May 1930 (acc.52792) and July 1932 (acc.65271); Stevens, London, May 1931 (acc.68158); Probably purchased from a Mr. Wilson, May 1976 (acc.325619); Item 31 has no accession number.

Sir Michael Foster was born in 1836 and studied medicine at University College London (UCL), passing M.B. (1858) and M.D. (1859). At William Sharpey's invitation, he became an instructor at UCL in physiology and histology in 1867, rising to assistant professor in 1869. He was also appointed Fullerian professor of physiology at the Royal Institution, succeeding Thomas Henry Huxley. Foster filled the first praelectorship in physiology at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1870. He had a brief research career in the problem of the heartbeat, but is best known for establishing a successful research department and influencing a vast number of students. He was a founder of the Physiological Society, and the editor of its journal from 1878-1894. Elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1872, he succeeded Huxley as secretary in 1881, and remained in that post until 1903. Foster was knighted in 1899. He died in 1907.

At Wellcome Collection: SA/PHY, the archives of the Physiological Society, contain material from and about Foster. PP/ESS, the papers of Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer, contain correspondence with Foster. Foster material is also included in: MS.7220, the papers of Henry Charlton Bastian; PP/HHD, the papers of Sir Henry Hallett Dale, MS.5424, the papers of Ernest Abraham Hart; and MSS.3417, 6129-6132 & 7245, the papers of Sir Patrick Manson.