Peter le Neve Foster

Peter Le Neve Foster (1809–1879) was an English barrister and mathematician. He is known as an innovating secretary of the Royal Society of Arts, and a pioneer photographer of the Calotype Club.

Born 17 August 1809, he was the son of Peter le Neve Foster of Lenwade, Norfolk. He was educated under Dr. Valpy at Norwich grammar school under Edward Valpy. He went on to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, graduating in the mathematical tripos in 1830, and bein elected Fellow of his college.

In 1836 Foster was called to the bar, and practised as a conveyancer. In 1853 he secretary to the Society of Arts, as successor to George Grove, a post he held for the rest of his life. With Henry Cole, Charles Wentworth Dilke, and others, he was heavily involved with the organisation of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and its successor 1862 International Exhibition. He was also connected with work on several of the earlier exhibitions abroad.

Foster was an early amateur photographer, and was one of the founders of the Photographic Society. With Roger Fenton he organised in 1852 the first photography exhibition held by the Society of Arts. He served for 13 years as secretary of the mechanical science section of the British Association. He died at Wandsworth, Surrey, 21 February 1879.

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