Forster, Johann Reinhold (1729-1798)

Forster, Johann Reinhold

BIOLOGIST, EXPLORER (HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE)

BORN 22 Oct 1729, Dirschau (near Danzig) - DIED 9 Dec 1798, Halle an der Saale, Sachsen-Anhalt
GRAVE LOCATION Halle an der Saale, Sachsen-Anhalt: Stadtgottesacker (Bogen 44)

Johann Reinhold Forster was fluent in German, Polish and Latin when he was four years old. He also learnt Russian, French, English and other languages. In 1765 he travelled with his son George to the Russian colony Saratov in Asia. After his return his fierce temper led to difficulties with the Russian government and he went to England where he taught natural history at Warrington, Lancashire.

In 1772 he replaced Joseph Banks as James Cooks scientific companion on his second voyage. He took his son George with him as his assistant. They returned to England in 1775 with detailed diaries of everything they had seen.

In 1779 he was appointed Professor of Natural History and Mineralogy at the University of Halle. He also was the director of the Botanical Garden in Halle-Witttenberg. He died in Halle in 1798.

Images
The grave of Johann Reinhold Forster at the Stadtgottesacker, Halle. Picture by Androom (27 Aug 2007)	The grave of Johann Reinhold Forster at the Stadtgottesacker, Halle. Picture by Androom (27 Aug 2007)