Gregory Foster

Foster was born in London and attended University College School^[3] and graduated from University College London (UCL) in 1888 with a degree in English.^[2] 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).^[3]

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.^[2] 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.

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

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.^[3]

University College London holds the following collections relating to Foster:

• Foster's archive which contains correspondence, lecture notes, and draft manuscripts^[4];
• Letters to Foster concerning the membership of the UCL Council^[5].

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