Sir Thomas Gregory Foster (10 June 1866 – 24 September 1931) was the Provost of University College London from 1904 to 1929,[1] and Vice-Chancellor of the University of London from 1928 to 1930.[2]

Early life

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He was born in London and attended University College School[3] and graduated from University College London (UCL) in 1888 with a degree in English.[2] He obtained a PhD from Strasbourg University in 1892 with his dissertation on the Anglo-Saxon poem Judith (Judith: studies in metre, language and style, with a view to determining the date of the Oldenglish fragment and the home of its author).[3]

Career

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He first taught at UCL became a professor of English language and literature at Bedford College, London before returning to UCL where he spent 25 years in administration as secretary, principal and later provost.[2] As Vice-Chancellor of the University of London he was instrumental in having the new university building established in central London at Bloomsbury rather than Holland Park in west London.

Personal life

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He was knighted in 1917 and created a baronet in 1930. In 1894 he married Fanny Maude (d.1928) and they had two sons and two daughters. He died in Hove, Sussex, in 1931.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Elizabeth J. Morse, 'Foster, Sir (Thomas) Gregory, first baronet (1866–1931)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009 retrieved 22 Dec 2010
  2. ^ a b c Sir Gregory Foster, Bt : Abstract : Nature
  3. ^ a b c AIM25 collection description
Academic offices
New post Provost of the University College London
1904–1929
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice-Chancellor of the
University of London

1928-1930
Succeeded by
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baronet
(of Bloomsbury)
1930–1931
Succeeded by
Thomas Saxby Gregory Foster