Home > Johann Reinhold Forster

Forster made contributions to the early ornithology of Europe and North America. He is best known as the naturalist on James Cook's second Pacific voyage, when he was accompanied by his son Georg Forster.

Forster was born in the Polish povince called Royal Prussia in the city of Tczew, twenty miles south of GdanskFor alternative meanings of Gdansk and Danzig, see Gdansk (disambiguation) and Danzig (disambiguation Gdansk (pronounced: Media:Gdansk. ogg|[gdask]]]) is the 6th largest city in Poland, its principal seaport, and the capital of the Pomeranian Voivodship.. He studied theology at the University of Halle, GermanyThe Federal Republic of Germany ( German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland is one of the world's leading industrialized countries, located in the middle of the European Union. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark and the Baltic Sea, to the east, afterwards serving as a Lutheran pastor. In 1766 he travelled to EnglandEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England with his son Georg. He spent three years teaching in WarringtonAlternate uses: see Warrington (disambiguation). Warrington is a town and borough in North West England. It was traditionally in Lancashire, but was moved to Cheshire in 1974. Since April 1, 1998 it has been an independent unitary authority and administra before moving to LondonLondon is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England, and with over seven million inhabitants in the Greater London area, is the second-most populous conurbation in Europe (after Moscow). From being Londinium the capital of the Roman province of Bri, where he became known as a natural historian. When Joseph BanksSir Joseph Banks ( February 13, 1743 June 19, 1820) was the British naturalist and botanist on Cook's first great voyage ( 1768- 1771) and some 75 species bear Banks' name. He is credited with the introduction to the West of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa, an withdrew at the last moment as naturalist on Cook's second voyage, Forster and his son were appointed to fill the vacant position. In July 1772 they set sail on the ResolutionOne of the most famous ships named HMS Resolution was commanded by Captain James Cook. She impressed him enough that he called her "the ship of my choice", and "the fittest for service of any I have seen. She was fitted out at Deptford with the most advan, returning to England in July 1775. During a stop in Cape Town, Forster engaged Anders Sparrman to act as his assistant.

Both the Forsters kept detailed diaries of everything they saw on the voyage, and made extensive collections of both natural history specimens and artefacts. On his return Forster published Observations Made during a Voyage round the World (1778). In November 1779 he was appointed Professor of Natural History and Mineralogy at the University of Halle, where he remained until his death.