He was born to Balthazar Foster and his wife Marian (née Green), in Cambridge on 17 July 1840.[1] In 1847 the family moved to Ireland, and Foster was educated at Drogheda Grammar School. In 1857 Foster attended Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied medicine. After graduation he became Prolector of Anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, but abandoned hopes of a medical career, even going as far as to apply for a naval commission.[2]
On the merger of Queen's and Sydenham colleges in 1868 he was appointed Professor of Medicine, a position he held until 1892. He became a doctor at Birmingham General Hospital, where he was galvanized by what he described as a "new atmosphere of modern thought and scientific enterprise" compared to the traditionalism of medicine in Dublin.[2] He was established as a researcher by a series of articles starting in 1863 covering treatment for peptic ulcers, valvular heart disease and cyanosis.
He was the first author in England to publish a text covering premature death among diabetics from ketoacidosis. His most famous research was his efforts to use diethyl ether in the treatment of phthisis. In 1870, he published Method and Medicine, a defence of scientific research in medicine. This was his last major piece of medical work; in the 1870s he became involved the public health and the social applications of medicine. In 1873, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP).[citation needed]
Parliamentary careeredit
In 1885, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Chester[3] as a Liberal candidate with a programme of free education and improved housing for the poor.
Although a strong supporter of Joseph Chamberlain, Foster did not reject Irish Home Rule in 1886 as Chamberlain did. In 1886, he was made President of the National Liberal Federation, where he played a large part in keeping Chamberlain's supporters loyal to William Ewart Gladstone. Foster was unseated by the faggot votes of the duke of Westminster's tenants at the Liberal defeat in the 1886 election,[2] and a knighthood the same year[4] suggested a retirement from politics, but Foster returned to Westminster in 1887, elected for Ilkeston after a by-election.[5]
In 1892, he was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board, becoming the first doctor to hold a ministerial post in Britain.[2] He organised the sanitation campaign between 1892 and 1895, which successfully prevented the 1893 Cholera epidemic reaching Britain. When the Liberals returned to power in 1905 some had predicted a cabinet position for him, but he was passed over on grounds of his age. In 1906 he was made a member of the Privy Council.[6] After his sixth victory at Ilkeston in 1910[7][8][9][10][11] he was asked to vacate his seat to allow J. E. B. Seely, recently defeated in his own constituency, to take his place. Foster took the position of Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, effectively resigning from the House of Commons, and Seely was duly elected in March 1910.[12]
In 1910, he was elevated to the peerage, as Baron Ilkeston, of Ilkeston in the County of Derby,[13] although he did little in the House of Lords due to his growing ill-health. A bowel obstruction was successfully operated on in 1911, but he died of bowel cancer in London on 31 January 1913, aged 72.[1][14]
^ abcdDavis, John. "Foster, Balthazar Walter, first Baron Ilkeston (1840–1913)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/41281. Retrieved 23 September 2004. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^"Lord Ilkeston". The Guardian. 1 February 1913. p. 8. Retrieved 24 March 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Sourcesedit
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Ilkeston, Balthazar Walter Foster, 1st Baron" . Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. 160A, Fleet street, London, UK: Dean & Son. p. 499.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
External linksedit
Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Balthazar Foster
walter, foster, baron, ilkeston, balthazar, frcp, july, 1840, january, 1913, british, physician, politician, walter, foster, ilkeston, division, foster, caricatured, leslie, ward, vanity, fair, october, 1894, contents, early, life, education, medical, career, . Balthazar Walter Foster 1st Baron Ilkeston PC FRCP 17 July 1840 31 January 1913 was a British physician and politician Walter Foster The Ilkeston Division Foster as caricatured by Spy Leslie Ward in Vanity Fair October 1894 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Medical career 3 Parliamentary career 4 Works 5 References 5 1 Sources 6 External linksEarly life and education edit nbsp Queen s College Birmingham a predecessor college of Birmingham UniversityHe was born to Balthazar Foster and his wife Marian nee Green in Cambridge on 17 July 1840 1 In 1847 the family moved to Ireland and Foster was educated at Drogheda Grammar School In 1857 Foster attended Trinity College Dublin where he studied medicine After graduation he became Prolector of Anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland but abandoned hopes of a medical career even going as far as to apply for a naval commission 2 In 1860 however he was appointed Demonstrator in Practical Anatomy at Queen s College Birmingham a predecessor college of Birmingham University later being appointed Professor of Anatomy In 1864 he obtained his MD from the University of Erlangen Nuremberg That same year he married Emily Martha Sargant citation needed Medical career editOn the merger of Queen s and Sydenham colleges in 1868 he was appointed Professor of Medicine a position he held until 1892 He became a doctor at Birmingham General Hospital where he was galvanized by what he described as a new atmosphere of modern thought and scientific enterprise compared to the traditionalism of medicine in Dublin 2 He was established as a researcher by a series of articles starting in 1863 covering treatment for peptic ulcers valvular heart disease and cyanosis He was the first author in England to publish a text covering premature death among diabetics from ketoacidosis His most famous research was his efforts to use diethyl ether in the treatment of phthisis In 1870 he published Method and Medicine a defence of scientific research in medicine This was his last major piece of medical work in the 1870s he became involved the public health and the social applications of medicine In 1873 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians FRCP citation needed Parliamentary career editIn 1885 he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Chester 3 as a Liberal candidate with a programme of free education and improved housing for the poor Although a strong supporter of Joseph Chamberlain Foster did not reject Irish Home Rule in 1886 as Chamberlain did In 1886 he was made President of the National Liberal Federation where he played a large part in keeping Chamberlain s supporters loyal to William Ewart Gladstone Foster was unseated by the faggot votes of the duke of Westminster s tenants at the Liberal defeat in the 1886 election 2 and a knighthood the same year 4 suggested a retirement from politics but Foster returned to Westminster in 1887 elected for Ilkeston after a by election 5 In 1892 he was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board becoming the first doctor to hold a ministerial post in Britain 2 He organised the sanitation campaign between 1892 and 1895 which successfully prevented the 1893 Cholera epidemic reaching Britain When the Liberals returned to power in 1905 some had predicted a cabinet position for him but he was passed over on grounds of his age In 1906 he was made a member of the Privy Council 6 After his sixth victory at Ilkeston in 1910 7 8 9 10 11 he was asked to vacate his seat to allow J E B Seely recently defeated in his own constituency to take his place Foster took the position of Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead effectively resigning from the House of Commons and Seely was duly elected in March 1910 12 In 1910 he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Ilkeston of Ilkeston in the County of Derby 13 although he did little in the House of Lords due to his growing ill health A bowel obstruction was successfully operated on in 1911 but he died of bowel cancer in London on 31 January 1913 aged 72 1 14 Works editAmong his publications were 1 The Use of the Sphygmograph in Heart Diseases 1866 Method and Medicine 1870 Clinical Medicine 1874 Political Powerlessness of the Medical Profession 1883 Public Aspects of Medicine 1890 References edit a b c Chisholm 1922 a b c d Davis John Foster Balthazar Walter first Baron Ilkeston 1840 1913 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 41281 Retrieved 23 September 2004 Subscription or UK public library membership required No 25541 The London Gazette 18 December 1885 p 6132 No 25651 The London Gazette 30 November 1886 p 5981 No 25687 The London Gazette 29 March 1887 p 1847 No 27873 The London Gazette 9 January 1906 p 182 No 26311 The London Gazette 29 July 1892 p 4306 No 26651 The London Gazette 9 August 1895 p 4480 No 27244 The London Gazette 6 November 1900 p 6769 No 27885 The London Gazette 13 February 1906 p 1040 No 28338 The London Gazette 11 February 1910 p 1030 No 28347 The London Gazette 11 March 1910 p 1768 No 28398 The London Gazette 22 July 1910 p 5269 Lord Ilkeston The Guardian 1 February 1913 p 8 Retrieved 24 March 2020 via Newspapers com Sources edit Chisholm Hugh ed 1922 Ilkeston Balthazar Walter Foster 1st Baron Encyclopaedia Britannica 12th ed London amp New York The Encyclopaedia Britannica Company Hesilrige Arthur G M 1921 Debrett s Peerage and Titles of courtesy 160A Fleet street London UK Dean amp Son p 499 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location link External links editHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Balthazar FosterParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byHenry Cecil Raikes Member of Parliament for Chester1885 1886 Succeeded byRobert YerburghPreceded byThomas Watson Member of Parliament for Ilkeston1887 1910 Succeeded byJ E B SeelyPolitical officesPreceded byWalter Long Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board1892 1895 Succeeded byThomas Wallace RussellPeerage of the United KingdomNew creation Baron Ilkeston1910 1913 Succeeded byBalthazar Foster Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Foster 1st Baron Ilkeston amp oldid 1197774766, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
