View source for William Edward Forster

{{short description|19th-century British politician, industrialist and philanthropist (1818–1886)}}
{{Other people|William Forster}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = William Edward Forster
| honorific-suffix    = [[Royal Society|FRS]]
| image               = William Edward Forster - Project Gutenberg eText 13789.jpg
| imagesize           = 200px
| caption             = William Edward Forster in 1851
| order1              = [[Chief Secretary for Ireland]]
| term_start1         = 30 April 1880
| term_end1           = 6 May 1882
| monarch1            = [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Victoria]]
| primeminister1      = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
| predecessor1        = [[James Lowther (1840–1904)|James Lowther]]
| successor1          = [[Lord Frederick Cavendish]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date|df=yes|1818|07|11}}
| birth_place         = [[Bradpole]], Dorset
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1886|04|5|1818|07|11}}
| death_place         = 
| nationality         = English
| party               = [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| alma_mater          = 
| father              = [[William Forster (philanthropist)|William Forster]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Jane Martha Arnold|1850}}
| relatives           = [[Thomas Arnold|Dr Thomas Arnold]] (father-in-law)<br />{{nowrap|[[Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster]] (nephew)}}<br />[[Florence Arnold-Forster]] (niece)<br />[[William Delafield Arnold]] (brother-in-law)
}}

'''William Edward Forster''', [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council|PC]], [[Royal Society|FRS]] (11 July 1818{{snd}}5 April 1886) was an English [[industrialist]], philanthropist and [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] statesman. As a minister in Gladstone's government, he steered through the [[Elementary Education Act 1870]] which was the foundation of compulsory national free education for children in the UK. However his reputation was later greatly tarnished by his coercive policies as minister for Ireland, then in the throes of a struggle for independence. His purported advocacy of the [[Royal Irish Constabulary|Irish Constabulary]]'s use of [[Deadly force|lethal force]] against the [[Irish National Land League|National Land League]] earned him the nickname '''Buckshot Forster''' from [[Irish nationalism|Irish nationalists]].<ref name ="Doyle">{{cite book| last =Doyle| first =Mark| title =Communal Violence in the British Empire: Disturbing the Pax| publisher =Bloomsbury Publishing| date =2016| pages =143| isbn =9781474268264 }}</ref>

==Early life==
Born to [[William Forster (philanthropist)|William]] and Anna Forster, [[Quaker]] parents at [[Bradpole]], near [[Bridport]] in Dorset, Forster was educated at the Quaker school at [[Tottenham]], where his father's family had long been settled, and on leaving school he was put into business. He declined to enter a brewery and became involved in [[wool]]len manufacture in [[Burley-in-Wharfedale]], Yorkshire. In 1850 he married Jane Martha, eldest daughter of [[Thomas Arnold|Dr Thomas Arnold]]. She was not a Quaker and Forster was formally [[Excommunication|read out of meeting]] for marrying her, but the Friends who were commissioned to announce the sentence "shook hands and stayed to luncheon". Forster thereafter ranked himself as a member of the [[Church of England]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=675}}

The Forsters had no natural children, but when Mrs Forster's brother, William Delafield Arnold, died in 1859, leaving four orphans, the Forsters adopted them as their own. One of the children was [[Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster]], a [[Liberal Unionist]] member of parliament, who eventually became a member of [[Arthur Balfour|Balfour]]'s cabinet.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=675}} Another was [[Florence Arnold-Forster]], who started Limerick Lace and she wrote a journal about family life and politics in the 1880s.<ref>Arnold-Forster, Florence, T W. Moody, R A. J. Hawkins, and Margaret Moody. ''Florence Arnold-Forster's Irish Journal.'' Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1988. {{ISBN|9780198224051}}.[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/15428860 WorldCat item record ]</ref> The youngest child, [[Frances Egerton Arnold-Forster]], compiled the first systematic study of English church dedications, published in 1899 as "Studies in English Church Dedications or England's Patron Saints".<ref>{{Cite ODNB |title=Frances Egerton Arnold-Forster in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |date=2004-09-23 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/49722 |pages=ref:odnb/49722 |editor-last=Matthew |editor-first=H. C. G. |access-date=2023-04-27 |place=Oxford |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/49722 |editor2-last=Harrison |editor2-first=B.}}</ref>

William Forster became known as a practical philanthropist. In 1846–47, he accompanied his father to Ireland as distributor of the Friends' relief fund for the [[Great Irish Famine]] in [[Connemara]], and the state of the country made a deep impression on him. He began to take an active part in public affairs by speaking and lecturing.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=675}}

==Political career==
In 1859, Forster stood as [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] candidate for [[Leeds (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds]], but lost. He was highly esteemed in the [[West Riding of Yorkshire|West Riding]], and in 1861 was returned unopposed for [[Bradford (UK Parliament constituency)|Bradford]]. He was returned again in 1865 (unopposed) and in 1868 (at the head of the poll). He took a prominent part in parliament in the debates on the [[American Civil War]], and in 1865 was made [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]] in [[John Russell, 1st Earl Russell|Lord John Russell]]'s ministry. It was then that he first became a prominent advocate of [[Imperial Federation|imperial federation]]. In 1866, his attitude on parliamentary reform attracted attention. He showed knowledge of the real condition of common people, and foreshadowed Radical legislation, heralding the start of a campaign of educational reform.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|pp=675–676}}

[[File:William Edward Forster, Vanity Fair, 1869-03-06.jpg|thumb|left|William Edward Forster caricatured by "Ape" in ''Vanity Fair'', 1859]]
Directly after the [[Reform Bill]] had passed, Forster and [[Edward Cardwell, 1st Viscount Cardwell|Edward Cardwell]] brought in Education [[Bill (proposed law)|Bills]] in 1867 and 1868. In 1868, when the Liberal party returned to office, Forster was appointed [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Vice-president of the Council]], with the duty of preparing a government measure for national education.  The [[Elementary Education Act 1870|Elementary Education Bill]] was introduced on 17 February 1870 and [[School board (England & Wales)|school boards]] were set up with elected representatives (for example, [[Charles Reed (British politician)|Charles Reed]] in London) the same year where possible.  The religious difficulty at once came to the front. The [[Manchester Education Union]] and the [[National Education League|National Education League/Birmingham Education League]] had already formulated in the provinces the two opposing theories, the former standing for the preservation of denominational interests, the latter advocating secular rate-aided education as the only means of protecting [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|Nonconformity]] against the [[Church of England|Established Church]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=676}}

The [[Dissenters]] were not satisfied with Forster's "conscience clause" as contained in the bill, and they regarded him, the ex-Quaker, as a deserter from their own side. They resented the "25th clause", permitting school boards to pay the fees of needy children at denominational schools out of the rates, as an insidious attack on their interests. By 14 March, at the second reading, the controversy had assumed threatening proportions; and [[George Dixon (MP)|George Dixon]], the Liberal member for Birmingham and chairman of the National Education League, moved an amendment, the effect of which was to prohibit all religious education in board schools. The government made its rejection a question of confidence, and the amendment was withdrawn; but the result was the insertion of the [[William Cowper-Temple, 1st Baron Mount Temple|Cowper-Temple clause]] (which prohibited the use of distinctive religious formularies in a rate-supported school) as a compromise before the bill passed. The bill of 1870, imperfect as it was, established at last some approach to a system of national education in England.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=676}}

Forster's next important work was in passing the [[Ballot Act 1872]]. In 1874, he was again returned for Bradford. In 1875, when [[William Ewart Gladstone|Gladstone]] "retired", Forster was strongly supported for the leadership of the Liberal party, but declined to be nominated. In the same year he was elected to the [[Royal Society]], and made Lord Rector of [[university of Aberdeen|Aberdeen University]]. In 1876, when the [[Great Eastern Crisis|Eastern question]] was looming, he visited [[Serbia]] and [[Turkey]], and his subsequent speeches on the subject were marked by moderation. On Gladstone's return to office in 1880, he was made [[Chief Secretary for Ireland]]. He carried the [[Compensation for Disturbance Bill]] through the Commons, only to see it thrown out in the Lords. On 24 January 1881, he introduced a Coercion Bill in the House of Commons, to deal with the growth of the [[Irish National Land League|Land League]], and in the course of his speech declared it to be "the most painful duty" he had ever had to perform. The bill passed, among its provisions being one enabling the Irish government to arrest without trial persons "reasonably suspected" of crime and conspiracy.
The [[Irish Parliamentary Party|Irish Party]] used every opportunity to oppose the act, and Forster was kept constantly on the move between [[Dublin]] and London, conducting his campaign and defending it in the House of Commons.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=676}}
[[File:William Edward Forster by Henry Tanworth Wells.jpg|thumb|upright|William Edward Forster by [[Henry Tanworth Wells]]<ref>National Portrait Gallery, London, accessed September 2009</ref>]]

He was nicknamed "[[Buckshot]]" by the Nationalist press, on the supposition that he had ordered its use by the police when firing on a crowd. On 13 October 1881, [[Charles Stewart Parnell]] was arrested, and soon after the [[Land League]] was suppressed. From that time Forster's life was in danger, and he had to be escorted by [[mounted police]] in Dublin. In speeches given across Ireland in early 1882, Forster, while criticizing the populace for not helping the government, nonetheless pledged that it was the government's duty to protect them. The danger to his life became more apparent, and several plans to murder him were frustrated by the merest accidents. On 2 May 1882, Gladstone announced that the government intended to release Parnell and his fellow-prisoners from [[Kilmainham Gaol]], and that both [[Lord Cowper-Temple]] and Forster had in consequence resigned; on the following Saturday, Forster's successor, [[Lord Frederick Cavendish]], was [[Phoenix Park murders|murdered]] in [[Phoenix Park]], Dublin. Still, Forster offered to return to Dublin temporarily as chief secretary, but the offer was declined. In the ensuing parliamentary session, he charged Parnell with conspiring in the murders, to be in turn denounced by Parnell.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=676}}

During the remaining years of his life, Forster's political record covered various interesting subjects, but his efforts in Ireland threw them all into shadow. He was at variance with Gladstone's Liberalism, for example in policies towards [[Sudan]] and [[South African Republic|Transvaal]]. When the constituency of Bradford was divided into three, he was returned for the central division but did not take up his seat.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=676}}

Forster died in London on 5 April 1886, on the eve of the introduction of the [[Government of Ireland Bill 1886|First Home Rule Bill]], which he had opposed.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=676}} His funeral took place at [[Westminster Abbey]] and his remains were returned to be buried near his home in Burley-in-Wharfedale.<ref>{{cite news|title=A corner of Yorkshire; The Forster Memorial|editor-last=Freeman|editor-first=Sarah|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=23 December 2017|location=The Magazine|page=4|issn=0963-1496}}</ref>

== Grave and inscription ==
Forster's grave can be found in God's Acre Cemetery, Burley-in-Wharfedale. The inscription reads:
{{clear}}
{{quote box |qalign=center |align=right |width=50% |quote = <poem> To the beloved memory
of
William Edward Forster
Born at Bradpole Dorset
July 11th 1818

Died in London
April 5th 1886

He represented the Borough of Bradford in Parliament during 25 years holding at various times the offices of Under Secretary for the Colonies Vice President of the Education Department and Chief Secretary for Ireland.

Eager in all things to promote the welfare of his countrymen, labouring especially for the national education and succeeding finally in extending it throughout the land, prompt and watchful with hereditary sympathy to defend the cause of weak or oppressed races

Striving with unwearied devotion & unfailing courage to give order and peace to Ireland. Ever upholding the ideal of {{Not a typo|an united}} realm in which the mother country and her colonies should be linked together in peaceful strength.

"After he had served his own generation by the will of God he fell on sleep."

After a funeral Service in Westminster Abbey his mortal remains were laid to rest here near his home in Wharfedale.

Let thy mercy O Lord be upon us according as we hope in thee
Psalm XXXIII v22 </poem>}}
[[File:William Edward Forster Grave.jpg|thumb|left|Gravestone of William Edward Forster in Burley-in-Wharfedale]]
{{clear}}

==In popular culture==
Forster is referred to as 'Buckshot' in the Irish folk song "[[Monto (Take Her Up To Monto)|Monto]]" made famous by [[The Dubliners]] and in [[Andy Irvine (musician)|Andy Irvine]]'s song ''Forgotten Hero'' about [[Michael Davitt]].{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{EB1911|wstitle=Forster, William Edward|volume=20|pages=675–677|first=Hugh|last=Chisholm|author-link=Hugh Chisholm}}
*{{Rayment|date=February 2012}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|William Edward Forster}}
{{NIE Poster|year=1906|Forster, William Edward|William Edward Forster}}
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-william-forster | William Edward Forster }}
* {{NPG name}}
*''[https://books.google.com/books?id=4IgPAAAAYAAJ&q=Life+of+the+Right+Honourable+William+Edward+Forster,+by+Thomas+Wemyss+Reid Life of the Right Honourable William Edward Forster]'', by [[Thomas Wemyss Reid]], published by Chapman & Hall, 1889, and available from Microsoft Books Live Search
*[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1873/jul/17/elementary-education-act-1870-amendment  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION ACT (1870) AMENDMENT BILL, House of Commons Debate, 17 July 1873, Hansard, vol 217 cc502-90 502, speech of Mr. William Edward Forster on the SECOND READING of the bill]

==Memorial==
There is a memorial to him in his home village of [[Bradpole]].[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3792076]
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-bef
 | before  = [[Titus Salt]]
 | before2 = [[Henry Wickham Wickham]]}}
{{s-ttl
 | title = Member of Parliament for [[Bradford (UK Parliament constituency)|Bradford]]
 | with  = [[Henry Wickham Wickham]] 1861–1867
 | with2 = [[Matthew William Thompson]] 1867–1868
 | with3 = [[Sir Henry Ripley, 1st Baronet|Henry Ripley]] 1868–1869
 | with4 = [[Edward Miall]] 1869–1874
 | with5 = [[Sir Henry Ripley, 1st Baronet|Henry Ripley]] 1874–1880
 | with6 = [[Alfred Illingworth]] 1880–1885
 | years = 1861{{snd}}[[1885 United Kingdom general election|1885]]
}}
{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}}

{{s-new|constituency}}
{{s-ttl|title  = Member of Parliament for [[Bradford Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Bradford Central]]
       |years  = [[1885 United Kingdom general election|1885]]–[[1886 Bradford Central by-election|1886]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[George Shaw-Lefevre, 1st Baron Eversley|George Shaw-Lefevre]]}}

{{s-off}}
{{succession box
  |title  = [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]]
  |before = [[Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford|Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue]]
  |after  = [[Charles Adderley, 1st Baron Norton|Charles Adderley]]
  |years  = 1865–1866
}}
{{succession box
  |title=[[Vice-President of the Committee on Education]]
  |before=[[Lord Robert Montagu]]
  |after=[[Dudley Ryder, 3rd Earl of Harrowby|Viscount Sandon]]
  |years=1868–1874
}}
{{succession box 
  | title=[[Chief Secretary for Ireland]] 
  | before=[[James Lowther (1840–1904)|James Lowther]] 
  | after=[[Lord Frederick Cavendish]] 
  | years=1880–1882
}}
{{s-aca}}
{{succession box
  |title=[[Rector of the University of Aberdeen]]
  |before=[[Thomas Henry Huxley]]
  |after=[[Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery|The Earl of Rosebery]]
  |years=1875–1878
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Rectors of the University of Aberdeen|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Forster, William Edward}}
[[Category:1818 births]]
[[Category:1886 deaths]]
[[Category:People from West Dorset District]]
[[Category:Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:People from Tottenham]]
[[Category:People disowned by the Quakers]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1859–1865]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1865–1868]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1868–1874]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1874–1880]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1880–1885]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1885–1886]]
[[Category:Rectors of the University of Aberdeen]]
[[Category:Politicians from Bradford]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of Ireland]]
[[Category:Chief secretaries for Ireland]]