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Vere Foster 1819-1900

Born in Copenhagen, he was the son of a British diplomat. Horrified by the Famine, he assisted, from his own resources, over 25,000 people to emigrate to America. He helped to improve the conditions for those travelling over. Again from his own funds he helped restore over 2,000 schools. In addition he devised a series of copybooks for the improving of handwriting. These were very popular and made him more money which he proceeded to donate to charitable causes. When he died almost all of his various fortunes were gone. He is buried in Belfast.