Forster, Johann

GEORG ADAM, commonly known as GEORG F., son of the above, a German traveller and naturalist, B. at Na enhuben, near Danzig, 1754. When only 17 years of age, he accompanied his father in Captain Cook's second voyage; and shortly after his return, he published, with the a istance of his father, an account of the expedition. His book was well received by the public, and was translated into French, German, Swedish, and other languages. Humboldt speaks of this work and of its author, "my celebrated teacher and friend, George Forster," in the highest terms in the Cosmos, (see vol. ii. p. 437, Bohn's ed.) F. having returned to the continent, was made Profe or of Natural History at Ca el, and afterwards at Wilna. Having there no acce to books, in 1788 he gladly accepted the office of librarian to the Elector of Mayence. After Mayence was taken by the French in 1792, F., who had become an ardent republican, was sent as a deputy to Paris, to request the incorporation of Mayence with the French republic. While he was in Paris on this mi ion, the Pru ians retook Mayence, and F. lost all his property, including his books and manuscripts. D. 1794. Besides numerous translations, and the account of Captain Cook's voyage, his most important works are, Kleine Schriften, ein Beitrag zur Länder- und Völkerkunde; Naturgeschichte und Philosophie des Lebens (6 vols., Berlin, 1789-1797); and Ansichten vom Nied err he in, von Brabant, Flandern, Holland, England, und Frankreich (3 vols., Berlin, 1791-1794). His widow, the daughter of Heine, but perhaps more widely known as Therese Huber, published a collection of his Letters, in 2 vols., in 1828-1829; and a complete edition of his works, in 9 vols., was published by his daughter and Gervinus, in 1843.