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Georg Forster

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Portrait by of Forster by J. H. W. Tischbein

Johann Georg Adam Forster (November 26, 1754 - January 10, 1794) was a botanical collector and artist.

He was born in Mokry Dwór German:Nassenhuben) near Gdansk (German:Danzig), the son of Johann Reinhold Forster. He took part in James Cook's second expedition to the Pacific (1772-75).

As a child his father had already taken him along on travels and both Forsters published the "Magazin von merkwürdigen neuen Reisebeschreibungen" ("Magazine of notable new travel accounts") in Berlin in 1791 and 1793. The descriptions of those travels were the basis for the "Mutiny on the Bounty".

George became Professor of Natural History at Vilnius, and made a tour of the Rhine with Alexander von Humboldt. However, he expressed support for the French Revolution and was exiled from Germany as a traitor. He died in Paris.