Henry Foster (scientist)

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Henry Foster (1796 – February 5, 1831) was a British naval officer who took part in expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic and made various notable scientific observations.

In his early career, he served aboard HMS York. Later, he served aboard HMS Griper as part of the British Naval Scientific Expedition led by Douglas Clavering, assisting the astronomer Edward Sabine. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society.

In 1824 as a lieutenant, he joined the Northwest Passage expedition led by William Edward Parry, aboard HMS Hecla. He made various scientific observations in magnetism and astronomy and pendulum measurements of gravity, for which he shared the Copley Medal in 1827 and received the rank of commander. Later in 1827 he joined the British Naval North Polar Expedition, again under the leadership of Parry.

From 1828 – 1831 he was commander of HMS Chanticleer and led the British Naval Expedition to the South Atlantic including the South Shetland Islands and notably Deception Island. He drowned in the Chagres River in Panama in 1831.

Port Foster in Deception Island is named after him.

Awards
Preceded by James South	Copley Medal 1827 jointly with William Prout	Succeeded by George Biddell Airy