FORSTER

forster, friedrich christoph (1791-1868), german historian and poet, was the second son of karl christoph forster (1751-1811), and consequently a brother of the painter, ernest joachim forster (1800-1885). born at munchengosserstadt on the saale on the 24th of september 1791, he received his early education at altenburg, and after a course of theology at jena, devoted some time to archaeology and the history of art. at the outbreak of the war of liberation in 1813, he joined the army, quickly attaining the rank of captain; and by his war-songs added to the national enthusiasm. on the conclusion of the war he was appointed professor at the school of engineering and artillery in berlin, but on account of some democratic writings he was dismissed from this office in 1817. he then became connected with various journals until about 1829, when he received an appointment at the royal museum in berlin, with the title of court councillor (_hofrat_). he was the founder and secretary of the _wissenschaftlicher kunstverein_ in berlin, and died in berlin on the 8th of november 1868. forster's principal works are: _beitrage zur neueren kriegsgeschichte_ (berlin, 1816); _grundzuge der geschichte des preussischen staates_ (berlin, 1818); _der feldmarschall blucher und seine umgebungen_ (leipzig, 1820); _friedrich der grosse, jugendjahre, bildung und geist_ (berlin, 1822); _albrecht von wallenstein_ (potsdam, 1834); _friedrich wilhelm i., konig von preussen_ (potsdam, 1834-1835); _die hofe und kabinette europas im 18. jahrhundert_ (potsdam, 1836-1839); _leben und taten friedrichs des grossen_ (meissen, 1840-1841); _wallensteins prozess_ (leipzig, 1844); and _preussens helden in krieg und frieden, neuere und neueste preussische geschichte_, 7 volumes (berlin, 1849-1860). the three concluding volumes of this work contain the history of the war of liberation of 1813-14-15. he brought out an edition of hegel's works, adapted several of shakespeare's plays for the theatre, wrote a number of poems and an historical drama, _gustav adolf_ (berlin, 1832). many of his lesser writings were collected and published as _kriegslieder, romanzen, erzahlungen und legenden_ (berlin, 1838). the beginning of an autobiography of forster, edited by h. kletke, has been published under the title, _kunst und leben_ (berlin, 1873).