Peter le Neve Foster facts for kids
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Peter Le Neve Foster (1809–1879) was a smart English barrister (which is a type of lawyer) and a mathematician. He was known for being a very creative secretary for the Royal Society of Arts. He was also one of the first people to use and promote photography, especially with the Calotype Club.
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A Life of Learning and Innovation
Peter Le Neve Foster was born on August 17, 1809, in Lenwade, Norfolk, England. His father was also named Peter le Neve Foster.
Early Education
Peter went to Norwich grammar school, where he was taught by Dr. Edward Valpy. After that, he studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He finished his math studies in 1830 and became a Fellow of his college.
Career and Contributions
In 1836, Foster became a barrister, working as a lawyer who specialized in property law. In 1853, he became the secretary of the Society of Arts, taking over from George Grove. He held this important job for the rest of his life.
Peter Le Neve Foster was very involved in organizing big events. He worked with important people like Henry Cole and Charles Wentworth Dilke to set up the famous Great Exhibition of 1851. This was a huge show of inventions and art from around the world. He also helped with the 1862 International Exhibition and other early exhibitions in different countries.
Photography Pioneer
Foster was one of the first people to enjoy photography as a hobby. He helped start the Photographic Society. In 1852, he worked with Roger Fenton to put on the very first photography exhibition for the Society of Arts.
For 13 years, he was also the secretary for the mechanical science section of the British Association. In 1869, he was the President of the Quekett Microscopical Club, which focused on microscopes. Peter Le Neve Foster passed away in Wandsworth, Surrey, on February 21, 1879.
His Writings
Peter Le Neve Foster wrote for many science and technical magazines. He wrote a lot for the Journal of the Society of Arts, but often he didn't put his name on his articles. He also gave two talks to the Society. One was about "Aluminium" in 1859, and the other was about the "Electric Loom" in 1860.
The Peter Le Neve Foster Lectures
The Peter Le Neve Foster Lectures are a series of talks given every year for the Royal Society of Arts. These lectures started in 1938. They were created with money left by two of Foster's children, Reginald and Mary.
Some of the interesting topics covered in these lectures include:
- 1938: A. E. W. Mason talked about The Artistic Future of the Films.
- 1944: Howard Walter Florey gave a lecture on Penicillin.
- 1957: Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan spoke about Baden-Powell and the Boy Scouts.
- 1959: Sylvia Townsend Warner discussed "Women as Writers".
