FORSTER (Jonx Recialorm,) in bio braphy, an eminent naturalist and philo logist, was born on the 22d of October, 1729, at Derschaw, in Polish Prussia, where his father was a burgomaster. He received very little education, except what he acquired himself by the natural strength of his own genius, till the year 1743, at which period he was placed for a year at the public school of Marienwer der ; and when about fifteen he was sent to Berlin, where he was admitted into the gymnasium of Joachimstlial. Having a decided attachment to the learned lan guages, he made great progress under Mezelins and Heinsius ; and even while at school, applied to the study of the Cop tic. He applied also to several of the modern languages, and particularly the Polish, which he had an opportunity of speaking with his school-fellows, many of whom were Poles, and among whom, at that time, was a very extraordinary ge nius, Stanislaus von Siestrzencewitz, who, through ambitious views, afterwards em braced the Catholic religion, and, on ac count of his eloquence, was raised to the dignity of a bishop. Among his school fellows also at this time were, Cochius, Resewitz, Irving, and the celebrated Pallas, now professor at Petersburgh.
In the year 1748, he was entered at the university of Halle ; his inclination led him to the study of medicine ; but his father was desirous that he should apply to jurisprudence ; he, however, studied theology, and indulged his taste for the learned languages, among which he in cluded the Oriental.
In the year 1751, he left the university, and repaired to Dantzic, where he soon distinguished himself by his sermons, in which he imitated the French rather than the Dutch manner, at that time the most prevalent. After being two years a can didate, he obtained a settlement, in 1753, at Nassenhuben, and in the month of Fe bruary, next year, married his own cou sin, Elizabeth Nikolai. While in this situation, he devoted great part of his leisure hours to philosophy, geography, and the mathematics, which were now his favourite pursuits ; and he improved himself still farther in the knowledge of ancient and modern languages ; but his income being small, and his family in creasing, he had to struggle with diffi culties, which induced him to accept an offer made to him by the Russian resident at Dantzic, of going to Russia, to superin tend the new colonies at Saratow. At
Petersburgh he gave so much satisfaction to the members of government, that count Orloff, who at that time enjoyed unlimited power, wrote to the resident at Dantzic, to thank him for having engaged a man of such great talents, and so agree able to his wishes. But, whether Forster had shewn himself too warm a friend of the colonists, had expressed his senti ments with too much freedom, or given offence to Orloff in some other manner, he soon returned to Petersburgh without completing his engagement. On his re. turn to the capital, he had advantageous offers made to him by the Academy of Sciences, and by that of Moscow, but he declined both. In the mean time, the congregation of Nassenhuben, whom he had left, insisted either on his returning or giving up the place. As he had still hopes that the Russian government would fulfil its promise, and make some provi. sion for him, he preferred the latter ; but his patience having been exhausted, his friends at Berlin, who had reason to ex pect hearing of his being on the banks of the Wolga, received letters from London, in the month of July, 1766, in which he stated, that he had left Russia in disgust, and had proceeded to England, with very little money, but with strong recommen dations. After his arrival in London, he received from the Russian government a present of a hundred guineas ; .and by translating Kalm's travels, and Osbeck's voyage, he procured some additional funds towards the support of his family. He had an offer from lord Baltimore of being superintendant of his extensive property in America, but this he declin ed, and accepted the place of teacher of the French, German, and natural history, in the academy of Warrington. This place, however, he left soon after, and returned to London, where he resided in very confined circumstances till the year 1772, when he was engaged to go out as naturalist with captain Cook, who was then ready to proceed on his second voyage round the world. Forster, at this time, was forty-three years of age, and was accompanied by his son George, then Seventeen.