Author: Foster, Mark
Biography:
FOSTER, Mark (1740-91: findmypast.com)
According to the posthumous, abridged, and certainly unauthorized edition of 1802, Foster's popular poem Scarborough had been composed in 1765. Newsam gives that as the date of publication but appears to have been mistaken. The first edition of 1770, published for the author, was dedicated to the Marquis of Granby and must have appeared before 18 Oct. 1770 when Granby died in Scarborough of gout, since there is no reference to his death. There were no new works after 1771, when Foster's Cautions to a Lady earned fairly respectful reviews. He was said to have been a native of Thornton near Pickering and was very probably the son of Thomas Foster baptised there on 10 Jul. 1740. Local lore also mentioned a connection to the Bishop of Clogher, who "gave him some small preferment" (Newsam). His name does not appear in the university lists of alumni but he was ordained deacon in 1763 and priest in 1764; he also received a Lambeth MA in 1772. He went to Ireland as a curate in 1763 and became vicar of Donagh 1766-73, then moved to Dublin where married Joyce Metge at St. Thomas's in 1774. It is not clear where they lived after 1777, nor whether there were children by the marriage. His will was proved at the Prerogative Court in Ireland in 1791. (findmypast.com 9 Oct. 2021; Newsam; James B. Leslie, Clogher Clergy and Parishes [1929] 112) HJ