1729-1798

German naturalist who, accompanied by his son Johann Georg Adams Forster, served with Captain James Cook on his second major expedition (1772-75). Despite his ill-temper and acrimonious relationship with Cook, the elder Forster contributed much to knowledge of the flora and fauna of the South Pacific, as well as the native people. Though initially forbidden by Cook to publish anything about the voyage, Forster eventually published several significant accounts of his botanical, zoological, and anthropological observations.