Michael Foster (physiologist)
Sir Michael Foster KCB FRS VMH (8 March 1836 – 29 January 1907) was an English physiologist.[1] He was instrumental in organizing the Cambridge Biological School and acted as Secretary of the Royal Society.
For other people named Michael Foster, see Michael Foster (disambiguation).
Sir Michael Foster
8 March 1836
29 January 1907 (aged 70)
Textbook of Physiology (1876)
Biography[edit]
Foster was born in Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire, in March 1836, the son of Michael Foster, FRCS. He was educated at Huntingdon Grammar school where he played cricket for the first eleven and was described as "a capital cricketer",[2] in his role as wicket-keeper batsman and University College School, London. After graduating in medicine in 1859, he began to practise in his native town, but in 1867 he returned to London as teacher of practical physiology at University College London, where two years afterwards he became professor. In 1870 he was appointed by Trinity College, Cambridge, to its praelectorship in physiology, and thirteen years later he became the first occupant of the newly created chair of physiology in the university, holding it till 1903.[3] One of his most famous students at Cambridge was Charles Scott Sherrington who went on to win the Nobel Prize in 1932.
He married first, in 1864, Georgina Edmonds, daughter of Cyrus Read Edmonds. Following her death in 1869, he married secondly, in 1872, Margaret Rust, daughter of George Rust, JP, of Huntingdon. He lived at Nine Wells House, Great Shelford in the Gog Magog Hills opposite his friend and fellow physiologist W H Gaskell.[4]
Irises[edit]
Foster was also the binomial author of many iris species.[12] One of many irises he introduced includes Iris lineata Foster ex Regel[13][14] (or A.Regel),[15] which was originally described and published in Gartenflora (1887),[13] and later cited in Curtis's Botanical Magazine (1888).[15]
The species Iris fosteriana was named after Foster by Aitchison, in 1881.[16][17]
The standard author abbreviation Foster is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.[18]
The British Iris Society recognised his significant contributions with the introduction of the Foster Memorial Plaque in 1926. This is a medal made of sterling silver, hallmarked by Toye & Co., London, one side cast in bas relief with an oval portrait of Foster, within a bed of irises, a banner above inscribed 'In Memory Sir Michael Foster 1836-1907'. The other side named the award winner. Early awardees included, in 1927 George Yeld VMH, American John Wister and Frenchman Seraphin Mottet. In 1936 it was given to painter William Caparne.[19] This award has continued into the twenty-first century.[20]