| 1849 January 12 |
Born on the family plantation near Franklin, Louisiana. His father is Thomas Jefferson Foster and his mother is Martha Murphy Foster. He will attend Washington and Lee University. |
| 1870 | Graduates from Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. |
| 1871 | Studies law at Tulane University. After passing the bar he forms a law partnership with Donelson Caffery in Franklin. |
| 1872 | Elected to the John McEnery legislature, but is denied a seat when president Grant recognizes the William Pitt Kellogg government. Joins the White League to overthrow the Kellogg administration. |
| 1877 | Marries Daisy Hine who dies a few months later. |
| 1879 | Wins a seat in the State Senate where he will serve until 1892. |
| 1881 | Marries Rosa Rosetta Ker. They will have 10 children. |
| 1888 | As president pro tempe of the State Senate Foster opposes the constitutional amendment to recharter of the Louisiana Lottery. |
| 1892 | Nominated for governor on the Anti-Lottery Democratic ticket and runs against Samuel D. McEnery. Foster wins the election by a margin of 79,270 votes to 47,046. |
| 1892 | Foster sends State Militia into New Orleans during a general strike of 42 unions which threatens the city’s economy. |
| 1893 | When a drought hits Nebraska this year and next Governor Foster sends twenty railroad cars full of food to the stricken area. |
| 1893 | When floods hit Louisiana Foster establishes refugee camps. |
| 1893 | Foster appoints Caffery and Newton Crain Blanchard to the U. S. Senate. |
| 1896 | Foster wins re-election 116,216 votes to 87,698 for John N. Pharr the Populist-Republican candidate. Foster needed to turn to the Democratic Regulars of New Orleans to win. |
| 1898 | The Constitution now grandfathers in illiterate whites whose father or grandfather registered to vote in 1867. It also bars Foster for running for a third consecutive term. |
| 1900 May 21 |
When Foster leaves office the next day the state legislature votes to send him to the U. S. Senate to succeed Caffery. |
| 1906 | Re-elected to the U. S. Senate |
| 1912 | Defeated for re-election by Congressman Joseph Ransdell of Lake Providence. |
| 1914 | Appointed as Collector of Customs, Port of New Orleans by Woodrow Wilson. |
| 1921 | June 12 Dies in New Orleans. |