Edward Forster

Edward Forster the Elder (11 February 1730 – 20 April 1812) was an English banker and antiquary.

Life Forster was the son of Thomas Forster, and brother of Benjamin Forster, born on 11 February 1730. He was educated at Felsted School. He then visited the Netherlands and his relative Benjamin Furly.

In 1764 Forster settled at Walthamstow. He was a member of the Mercers' Company, a director of the London Docks, governor of the Royal Exchange, and, for nearly thirty years, of the Russia Company, in which capacity he gave an annual ministerial dinner. When consulted by Pitt as to a forced paper currency he was offered a baronetcy. He is stated to have been the introducer of bearded wheat from Smyrna.

Works In 1774 he published the speeches made by him at the bar of the House of Commons on the linen and Russia trades. His other publication was Occasional Amusements, 1809, pp. 87, a volume of verse.