John Foster, an English essayist, born in Halifax, Yorkshire, Sept. 17, 1770, died at Sta-pleton, near Bristol, Oct. 15, 1843. In early life he was a weaver, but at the age of 17, having united with the Baptist church, he resolved to devote himself to the ministry, and finished his studies at the Baptist college in Bristol. He commenced his career as a preacher at New-castle-on-Tyne in 1792, and afterward went to Dublin, and endeavored unsuccessfully to establish himself either as a preacher or schoolmaster. In 1797 he went to a Baptist chapel in Chichester, and thence successively to Down-end in 1800, and to Frome in 1804; but though his preaching was powerful, it made little or no impression on the popular mind. While at Frome he first published his celebrated Essays," and also became the principal contributor to the Eclectic Review," the articles for which (185 in number) formed his almost exclusive literary labor for 13 years. In 1817 he returned to Downend. where he wrote his "Essay on the Evils of Popular Ignorance," in which he gives an appalling description of the barbarism prevailing in the lower classes of the English population. His health failing, he then employed himself chiefly in preparing works for the press, though preaching at intervals until his death.

He was a profound thinker and a powerful writer. His remaining books are: Contributions, Biographical, Literary, and Philosophical, to the Eclectic Review (2 vols. 8vo, 1840);Lectures delivered at Broad-mead chapel, Bristol" (1st series, 1844; 2d series, 1847); and Introductory Essay to Doddridge's Rise and Progress (1847). The Life and Correspondence of Foster (2 vols. 8vo), edited by J. E. Ryland, was published in 1846.