Balthazar Foster, 1st Baron Ilkeston
Encyclopedia
Balthazar Walter Foster, 1st Baron Ilkeston PC FRCP
(July 17, 1840 – February 3, 1913) was a British doctor and politician.
. In 1857 Foster attended Trinity College, Dublin
, where he studied medicine. After graduation he became Prolector of Anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
, but abandoned hopes of a medical career, even going as far as to apply for a naval commission. In 1860, however, he was appointed Demonstrator in Practical Anatomy at Queen's College, Birmingham
, later being appointed Professor of Anatomy. In 1864 he obtained his MD
from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, and in the same year married Emily Martha Sargant.
s, Valvular heart disease
and Cyanosis
. He was the first author in England to publish a text covering premature death among diabetics from ketoacidosis
. His most famous research was his efforts to use diethyl ether
in the treatment of phthisis. In 1870 he published Method and Medicine, a defence of scientific research in medicine. This was his last major piece of medical work; in the 1870's he became involved the public health and the social applications of medicine. In 1873 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
(FRCP).
for Chester as a Liberal
candidate with a programme of free education and improved housing for the poor. Although a strong supporter of Joseph Chamberlain
, Foster did not reject Irish home rule in 1886 as Chamberlain did. In 1886 he was made President of the National Liberal Federation
, where he played a large part in keeping Chamberlain's supporters loyal to William Ewart Gladstone
. Foster was unseated following the Liberal defeat at the 1886 election, and a knighthood the same year suggested a retirement from politics, but Foster returned to Westminster in 1887, elected for Ilkeston
after a by-election. In 1892 he was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board
, becoming the first doctor to hold a ministerial post in Britain. He organised the sanitation campaign between 1892 and 1895, which successfully prevented the 1893 Cholera epidemic reaching Britain. When the Liberals returned to power in 1905 some had predicted a return to a cabinet position for him, but he was passed over on grounds of his age. In 1906 he was made a member of the Privy Council. After his sixth victory at Ilkeston in 1910 he was asked to vacate his seat to allow J. E. B. Seely
, recently defeated in his own constituency, to take his place. Foster took the position of Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead
, effectively resigning from the House of Commons, and Seely was duly elected in March 1910.
In 1910 he was elevated to the peerage, as Baron Ilkeston of Ilkeston in the County of Derby, although he did little in the House of Lords due to his growing ill-health. A bowel obstruction was successfully operated on in 1911, but he died of bowel cancer in 1913.
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
(July 17, 1840 – February 3, 1913) was a British doctor and politician.
Early life and education
He was born to Balthazar Foster and his wife Marian Foster, formerly Marian Green. In 1847 the family moved to Ireland, and Foster was educated at Drogheda Grammar SchoolDrogheda Grammar School
Drogheda Grammar School is a co-educational, multi-denominational boarding and day school, located on the Mornington Road, Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland....
. In 1857 Foster attended Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, where he studied medicine. After graduation he became Prolector of Anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , is a Dublin-based medical institution, situated on St. Stephen's Green. The college is one of the five Recognised Colleges of the National University of Ireland...
, but abandoned hopes of a medical career, even going as far as to apply for a naval commission. In 1860, however, he was appointed Demonstrator in Practical Anatomy at Queen's College, Birmingham
Queen's College, Birmingham
The Birmingham Medical School was founded by surgeon William Sands Cox in 1828 as a residential college for medical students in central Birmingham, England. It was the first Birmingham institution to award degrees, through the University of London. Cox went on to found the Queen's Hospital in Bath...
, later being appointed Professor of Anatomy. In 1864 he obtained his MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, and in the same year married Emily Martha Sargant.
Medical career
On the merger of Queen's and Sydenham colleges in 1868 he was appointed Professor of Medicine, a position he held until 1892. He became a doctor at Birmingham General Hospital, where he was galvanized by what he described as a ‘new atmosphere of modern thought and scientific enterprise’ compared to the traditionalism of medicine in Dublin. He was established as a researcher by a series of articles starting in 1863 covering treatment for Peptic ulcerPeptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
s, Valvular heart disease
Valvular heart disease
Valvular heart disease is any disease process involving one or more of the valves of the heart . Valve problems may be congenital or acquired...
and Cyanosis
Cyanosis
Cyanosis is the appearance of a blue or purple coloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to the tissues near the skin surface being low on oxygen. The onset of cyanosis is 2.5 g/dL of deoxyhemoglobin. The bluish color is more readily apparent in those with high hemoglobin counts than it is...
. He was the first author in England to publish a text covering premature death among diabetics from ketoacidosis
Ketoacidosis
Ketoacidosis is a metabolic state associated with high concentrations of ketone bodies, formed by the breakdown of fatty acids and the deamination of amino acids. The two common ketones produced in humans are acetoacetic acid and β-hydroxybutyrate....
. His most famous research was his efforts to use diethyl ether
Diethyl ether
Diethyl ether, also known as ethyl ether, simply ether, or ethoxyethane, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula . It is a colorless, highly volatile flammable liquid with a characteristic odor...
in the treatment of phthisis. In 1870 he published Method and Medicine, a defence of scientific research in medicine. This was his last major piece of medical work; in the 1870's he became involved the public health and the social applications of medicine. In 1873 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
(FRCP).
Parliamentary career
In 1885 he was elected as a Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Chester as a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
candidate with a programme of free education and improved housing for the poor. Although a strong supporter of Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain was an influential British politician and statesman. Unlike most major politicians of the time, he was a self-made businessman and had not attended Oxford or Cambridge University....
, Foster did not reject Irish home rule in 1886 as Chamberlain did. In 1886 he was made President of the National Liberal Federation
National Liberal Federation
The National Liberal Federation was the union of all English and Welsh Liberal Associations. It held an annual conference which was regarded as being representative of the opinion of the party’s rank and file and was broadly the equivalent of a present-day party conference.-Foundation:The...
, where he played a large part in keeping Chamberlain's supporters loyal to William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
. Foster was unseated following the Liberal defeat at the 1886 election, and a knighthood the same year suggested a retirement from politics, but Foster returned to Westminster in 1887, elected for Ilkeston
Ilkeston (UK Parliament constituency)
Ilkeston is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was represented by one Member of Parliament...
after a by-election. In 1892 he was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board
Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board was, from 1871 – 1919, a junior ministerial post in the United Kingdom subordinate to the President of the Local Government Board...
, becoming the first doctor to hold a ministerial post in Britain. He organised the sanitation campaign between 1892 and 1895, which successfully prevented the 1893 Cholera epidemic reaching Britain. When the Liberals returned to power in 1905 some had predicted a return to a cabinet position for him, but he was passed over on grounds of his age. In 1906 he was made a member of the Privy Council. After his sixth victory at Ilkeston in 1910 he was asked to vacate his seat to allow J. E. B. Seely
J. E. B. Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone
John Edward Bernard Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone CB, CMG, DSO, PC, TD was a British soldier and politician. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1900 to 1904 and a Liberal MP from 1904 to 1922 and from 1923 to 1924...
, recently defeated in his own constituency, to take his place. Foster took the position of Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead
Manor of Northstead
The Manor of Northstead was once a collection of fields and farms in the parish of Scalby in the North Riding of Yorkshire in England. By 1600, the manor house had fallen into disrepair and was occupied only by a shepherd. At present the Manor is part of the Barrowcliff area of the town of...
, effectively resigning from the House of Commons, and Seely was duly elected in March 1910.
In 1910 he was elevated to the peerage, as Baron Ilkeston of Ilkeston in the County of Derby, although he did little in the House of Lords due to his growing ill-health. A bowel obstruction was successfully operated on in 1911, but he died of bowel cancer in 1913.