Forster, William jr.

1764-1824

He was a son of William Forster, sr., and is usually known as Royal Forster because of the fact that his title was "Music-seller to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cumberland." He followed his father as a maker of violins, and some of his instruments are of a high order of merit. The Forsters both obtained in their instruments a stronger and more penetrating tone than that possessed by others and they were highly favored by Robert Lindley, the famous violinist, and his school. William Forster, jr. died in London. He left two sons, one of whom, Simon, carried on the business founded by his grandfather, and wrote a history of the violin, jointly with W. Sandys.