George H. Forster

American politician (1838–1888)

George Henry Forster (June 20, 1838 – November 8, 1888) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.^[1] He was a member of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.

Forster was born on June 20, 1838, in Charlestown, now a part of Boston, Massachusetts.^[2] His parents were Henry Forster and Mary Taber (Swift) Forster.^[3] He received his early edition in the public schools of Charlestown.^[2]

Forster graduated from Harvard University with distinguished honors in 1857.^[3]^[2] He then worked for a railroad company and studied law for four years.^[4]^[2]

Career

Forster was admitted to the bar in 1861 and practiced law in New York City.^[4]^[2] He eventually became a partner with the law firm renamed as Weeks, DeForest & Forster.^[4] His office was located at 58 Wall Street.^[4]

In 1874, he was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for Alderman at Large of New York City.^[2] Forster was elected to the New York State Assembly (Westchester Co., 1st D.) in 1876.^[2] In 1879, he was elected to the New York State Senate (11th D.), serving in 1880 and 1881.^[5] In 1881, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the district attorney of New York County.^[2]

In 1882, he left the Republican Party and joined Tammany Hall, with whom he was a local leader for the party.^[2] He ran for district attorney in 1884, but lost again.^[2] He was elected president of the Board of Aldermen of New York City in 1888 and died two days after his re-election.^[2]

Personal life

In 1867, Forster married Constance Atherton, the daughter of Henry L. Atherton.^[6] They lived in Riverdale, which was then an area in the Town of Kingsbridge, in Westchester County. The area was annexed by New York City in 1874. The couple had two sons,^[2] including Henry Atherton Forster (1868-1932), who was a successful lawyer and historian from New York City.^[7]

Forster died of typhoid fever on November 8, 1888, at his home in Riverdale.^[2]

References

↑ "Catalogue of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity: Biographical". Delta Kappa Epsilon. 1867.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Died After His Election" The New York Times. November 9, 1888.
1 2 Report of the Class of 1857 in Harvard College. Harvard University. 1893. George Henry Forster, son of Henry and Mary Taber Swift Forster, was born in Charlestown, Mass., June 20, 1838. ...
1 2 3 4 Pierce, Frederick Clifton (January 1899). "Forster genealogy". p. 423.
↑ Werner, Edgar Albert. Civil List and Constitutional History of the Colony and State of New York. Albany: Weed, Parson & Co. Publishers, 1884. pp. 291 and 376. via Google Books.
↑ "Forster-Atherton. Oct 17, 1867 at the Church of the Atonement, by Rev. William T. Sabine, George Henry Forster, to Constance Atherton, daughter of Henry L. Atherton". nysoclib.org/collection/nyc-marriage-death-notices-1857-1868.
↑ "Henry Atherton Forster papers 1914-1932". archives.nypl.org.

New York State Assembly

Preceded by

Dennis R. Shiel

New York State Assembly
Westchester Co., 1st District
1876

Succeeded by

Ambrose H. Purdy

New York State Senate

Preceded by

Stephen H. Wendover

New York State Senate
11th District
1880–1881

Succeeded by

Frank P. Treanor

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