Forster, William Edward (1818-1886), was a Liberal Party politician who helped make education available to all in the United Kingdom. As a member of Prime Minister William Gladstone’s Cabinet, he introduced and promoted the Elementary Education Act of 1870. This act increased grants to existing elementary schools and empowered local school boards to provide more elementary schools to meet the needs of their communities.
Forster was born in Bradpole, Dorset, England, on July 11, 1818. He became a member of Parliament in 1861. He died on April 5, 1886.
