Richard Foster

Richard Baxter Foster (October 25, 1826 – March 30, 1901) was an American abolitionist, Union Army officer, and initial head of a college for African Americans in Jefferson City, Missouri. During the American Civil War, Foster volunteered to be an officer for the 1st Missouri Regiment of Colored Infantry regiment of the U.S. Army, largely recruited in Missouri, and helped set up educational program for its soldiers. In 1866 Foster headed the new college in Jefferson City, the Lincoln Institute, with financial support from his former regiment. The college is now named Lincoln University. Early life and education Foster was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, on October 25, 1826, to Richard and Irene Bourroughs Foster. He was educated in Congregationalist schools, including Henniker Academy, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1851. Activism After college, Foster moved to Illinois and then to Iowa and taught in schools for African Americans. In 1856, he joined abolitionist John Brown in a series of attacks on proslavery settlements in Kansas known as Bleeding Kansas. Foster later moved to Nebraska and in 1862 enlisted in the 1st Regiment Nebraska Volunteer Infantry to fight in the American Civil War (1861–1865). After African-American soldiers were authorized to join the Union Army in 1863, Foster volunteered to serve as an officer for a black regiment. He was commissioned a first lieutenant and joined the 1st Missouri Regiment of Colored Infantry (later redesignated as the 62nd Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops). While an officer, Foster led in the education of the soldiers, many of whom were former slaves. The regiment was stationed in Louisiana and Texas and took part in the Battle of Palmetto Ranch. It also saw numerous casualties due to disease. Foster was mustered out in January 1866. Lincoln Institute After the war, Foster and other officers and soldiers of his regiment, together with the 2nd Missouri Regiment of Colored Infantry, organized and raised money to create a school for former slaves in Missouri. Foster advocated that the reopening of Central Methodist University include allowing black students to join, but he was rebuffed. He moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, and after some difficulty opened the Lincoln Institute with two students on September 17, 1866. The school struggled financially, and Foster employed Charles A. Beal, Henry Ward Beecher, and Frederick Douglass to serve as fundraisers with some success.