Colonel Forster

Colonel Forester is the commanding officer (perhaps the lieutenant colonel) of the militia quartered in Meryton for the winter. He attends a dinner at Lucas Lodge where Fitzwilliam Darcy listens in on his conversation with Elizabeth Bennet, who teases the colonel about holding a ball. Mrs. Bennet thinks he looked very becoming in his regimentals that evening, and as she makes a general comment about the suitability of a "smart young colonel" with five or six thousand pounds a year, she might consider him young and wealthy.

Mrs. Phillips notices when Colonel Forester and Captain Carter stop going to Miss Watson's as often as they did, and she tells her niece Lydia that she instead sees them standing in Clarke's library. While visiting Netherfield Park to see her sick sister Jane, Lydia claims she will tell Colonel Forster it would be a shame if Charles Bingley hosted a ball and he did not, but it is unknown if she did. On another visit, Mrs. Phillips tells Lydia that if her husband Mr. Phillips turns away their servant Richard, Colonel Forster will hire him.

When Jane and Elizabeth return from Netherfield, Lydia and Kitty report a rumor that Colonel Forster will be married; however, he can't have married immediately because his wife does not become acquainted with the Bennets until February. Over the next three months Harriet Forster befriends Lydia Bennet, and Colonel Forster participates in a prank with them where they dressed up Chamberlayne in one of Mrs. Phillips's dresses. Harriet invites Lydia to come to stay with them in Brighton, and though Elizabeth cautions against it, Mr. Bennet gives his permission because he thinks Colonel Forster is a sensible man who can keep Lydia out of trouble. The militia leaves Meryton in the third week of May.

Colonel Forster notices Lydia's partiality for George Wickham, but though he disapproved of Wickham's imprudence and extravagance, he had no reason for alarm before Lydia elopes with Wickham, leaving behind a note for his wife. Colonel Forester sends Mr. Bennet an express to inform him before he hears that Mr. Denny has admitted Wickham is not taking Lydia to Gretna Green. Alarmed, Colonel Forester traces their route to Clapham, but he did not trace them further in London or Hertfordshire. He comes to Longbourn with Lydia's note for Mrs. Forster and shakes his head when Jane Bennet expresses her hope that Lydia and Wickham will be married. He goes to London with Mr. Bennet to continue searching, but he has to return to Brighton the next evening and cannot help further.

He questions Denny personally upon returning to Brighton, and this time, Denny does not repeat his opinion that they did not intend to marry. Mr. Gardiner writes Colonel Forester to ask if his intimates in the regiment know of any relatives or connections he has who might know where Wickham is hiding, but Colonel Forester writes back to say he has no one and reports his gaming debts are more than a thousand pounds and that he has other debts in Brighton besides. After Lydia and Wickham are found by Darcy, Mr. Gardiner writes Colonel Forester as the go-between so Darcy can secretly pay Wickham's debts before their marriage. Wickham also receives a commission in the regulars, meaning Colonel Forester is no longer his commanding officer.