Sir Thomas Gregory Foster (10 June 1866 – 24 September 1931) was the Provost of University College London from 1904 to 1929,Elizabeth J. Morse, 'Foster, Sir (Thomas) Gregory, first baronet (1866–1931)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009 retrieved 22 Dec 2010 and Vice-Chancellor of the University of London from 1928 to 1930.Sir Gregory Foster, Bt : Abstract : Nature

Early life Foster was born in London and attended University College SchoolAIM25 collection description and graduated from University College London (UCL) in 1888 with a degree in English. He obtained a PhD from Strasbourg University in 1892 with his dissertation on the Anglo-Saxon poem Judith (Judith: studies in metre, language and style, with a view to determining the date of the Oldenglish fragment and the home of its author).

Career Foster first taught at UCL became a professor of English language and literature at Bedford College, London before returning to UCL where he spent 25 years in administration as secretary, principal and later provost. As Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Foster was instrumental in having the new university building established in central London at Bloomsbury rather than Holland Park in west London.

Legacy The Foster Court area of UCL's Bloomsbury campus is named after Foster.

Personal life Foster was knighted in 1917 and created a baronet in 1930. In 1894 he married Fanny Maude (d.1928) and they had two sons and two daughters. He died in Hove, Sussex, in 1931.

Collections University College London holds the following collections relating to Foster:

Foster's archive which contains correspondence, lecture notes, and draft manuscripts; Letters to Foster concerning the membership of the UCL Council.

See also List of Vice-Chancellors of the University of London List of British university chancellors and vice-chancellors

References

External links

Foster Papers (MS ADD 103) at University College London University College London Council (MS ADD 115) at University College London