he stood for re-election but was defeated. He was joint editor with E. Ray Lankester of The Scientific Memoirs of Thomas Henry Huxley. His chief writings were a Textbook of Physiology (1876), which became a standard work, and Lectures on the History of Physiology during the 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries (1901), which consisted of lectures delivered at the Cooper Medical College, San Francisco, in 1900. He was elected as a member to the American Philosophical Society in 1902. He died suddenly in London in 1907. Irises Foster was also the binomial author of many iris species. One of many irises he introduced includes Iris lineata Foster ex Regel (or A.Regel), which was originally described and published in Gartenflora (1887), and later cited in Curtis's Botanical Magazine (1888). The species Iris fosteriana was named after Foster by Aitchison, in 1881. The British Iris Society recognised his significant contributions with the introduction of the Foster Memorial Plaque in 1926. This is a medal made of sterling silver, hallmarked by Toye & Co., London, one side cast in bas relief with an oval portrait of Foster, within a bed of irises, a banner above inscribed 'In Memory Sir Michael Foster 1836-1907'. The other side named the award winner. Early awardees included, in 1927 George Yeld VMH, American John Wister and Frenchman Seraphin Mottet. In 1936 it was given to painter William Caparne. This award has continued into the twenty-first century. References Bibliography Attribution External links Biography and bibliography in the Virtual Laboratory of the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science Obituary in The Journal of Physiology Photograph of Sir Michael's residence, Nine Wells House, Great Shelford. This house used to have an extensive iris garden planted by Sir Michael, but the iris garden was lost during WW II. Sir Michael Foster works @Google Books 1836 births 1907 deaths People from Huntingdon People educated at University College School Academics of University College London Alumni of the University of London English agnostics English physiologists Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge Fellows of the Royal Society Fullerian Professors of Physiology Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for London University UK MPs 1895–1900 UK MPs 1900–1906 Presidents of the British Science Association Liberal Unionist Party MPs for English constituencies Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Victoria Medal of Honour recipients People from Great Shelford