John Thomas Foster

He was the son of Rev Thomas Foster, Rector of Dunleer and Dorothy née Burgh.^[1] Foster was elected member to the Irish House of Commons for Dunleer in 1776 and held this seat until 1783. Subsequently he represented Ennis until 1790.

Foster married 1776, Lady Elizabeth Hervey, the daughter of 4th Earl of Bristol; they separated 1781. After their separation, Elizabeth became mistress and later second wife of William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire. Together, they had two sons and a daughter:

• Frederick Thomas Foster (3 October 1777 – 1853) MP for Bury St Edmunds.
• Elizabeth Foster (17 November 1778 – 25 November 1778).
• Augustus John Foster, later Sir Augustus Foster, 1st Baronet (December 1780 – 1848).