| Activity | Museum Staff: Director 1938-1947
Educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Cambridge. Joined J Stanley Gardiner's expedition to the Maldive and Laccadives Islands, 1900. Joined staff of the North Sea Fisheries Commission for Scientific Investigation, 1902-1903. Returned to Cambridge and went on expedition to the Seychelles Islands with J Stanley Gardiner on HMS Sealark. Met Dr C W Andrews at British Museum (Natural History), who introduced Forster-Cooper to palaeontology. Went with Andrews to Fayum, Eygpt, 1907. Spent year, 1909-1910, at American Museum of Natural History and developed life-long friendship with Henry Fairfield Osborn, taking part in expedition of Walter Granger to Bad Lands of Dakota. Returned to Cambridge under Balfour Studentship, visited Bugti Hills near Dera Bugti, Baluchistan, 1910 and 1911, discovering fossil Rhinoceros Baluchitherium or Paracerathium. Appointed Director, Cambridge University Museum of Zoology, 1914, following move of Dr Sidney Harmer to NHM. From 1914-1918 worked on malaria at School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool. Became Cambridge University reader in vertebrates, fellow and bursar of Trinity Hall and suggested new library plan, becomming chairman of the Buildings Syndicate, 1928-1938. Became Fellow of Royal Society, 1936 and awarded Sc D in 1938. As Director of the NHM from 1938, Forster-Cooper lived in the Museum, ensuring the survival of the collections despite severe bomb damage in 1940 and 1945. Knighted 1946. He was due to retire on 1 Oct 1947, but died on 23 Aug. Described as modest and shy, appreciated paintings, and a water-colourist and draughtsman of some skill. See Acc 2004/6 |