Henry Forster, 1st Baron Forster
The Lord Forster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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H.E. the Lord Forster in 1925 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7th Governor-General of Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 6 October 1920 – 8 October 1925 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | George V | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Billy Hughes Stanley Bruce | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | The Viscount Stonehaven | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of Parliament | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 26 July 1892 – 12 December 1919 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Charles Mills | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Cuthbert James | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Sevenoaks (1892–1918) Bromley (1918–1919) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 31 January 1866 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 15 January 1936 (aged 69) London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resting place | Exbury, Hampshire 50°48′01″N 1°23′45″W / 50.8004°N 1.3957°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Party | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Hon. Rachel Douglas-Scott-Montagu (m. 1890) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | Lord Avebury Lord Montagu of Beaulieu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 sons, 2 daughters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Harry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cricket career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Slow left-arm orthodox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1885–1895 | Hampshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1886–1889 | Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Henry Forster at ESPNcricinfo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Henry William Forster, 1st Baron Forster (31 January 1866 – 15 January 1936), was a British politician and first-class cricketer who served as the seventh Governor-General of Australia from 1920 to 1925. He was previously a government minister under Arthur Balfour, Herbert Asquith, and David Lloyd George.
Born at the family seat in Catford, Kent, Forster attended Eton College before going up to Oxford, matriculating at New College. In his youth he played first-class cricket, predominantly for Oxford University and Hampshire, making 43 appearances at first-class level. An all-rounder, it was as a bowler that he achieved most success, taking 135 wickets with his slow left-arm orthodox bowling. He was later nominated President of Marylebone Cricket Club for 1919.
Forster was elected to the House of Commons in 1892, representing Sevenoaks for the Conservative Party. He was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury under Balfour from 1902 to 1905, later becoming the Finance Member of the Army Council during the First World War from 1915 to 1919. Elevated to the peerage in 1919, Forster was appointed Governor-General of Australia the following year. His appointment was a change from that of his predecessors, his name having been put forward to the Australian Government by Colonial Secretary, Viscount Milner, as one of three candidates to succeed the outgoing Governor-General Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson. This approach broke with tradition, being when the Commonwealth Government was first consulted over Crown appointments.
Returning to Britain after five years in Australia, Forster held various ceremonial posts in Hampshire, including Verderer of the New Forest, as well as directorships of three Australian financial institutions. In 1936, Forster died in London after failing to recover from surgery for coronary-vascular disease.