A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Forbes, John
FORBES. (Ret. Capt., 1844. f-p.„ 19; h-p., 34.)
John Forbes, born 15 March, 1780, at Aberdeen, is son of the late Geo. Forbes, Esq., a merchant of that city, by Jane, daughter of Lumsden, of Alford and Cromar, co. Aberdeen; and brother of the late Capt. David Forbes, E.I.Co.’s Service, Governor of Ternate.
This officer entered the Navy, 6 Feb. 1794, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Minotaur 74, Capt. Thos. Louis, in which ship,, bearing successively the flags of Admirals Macbride, Waldegrave, Colpoys, and Lord Keith, he served the whole of his time, and was present at the reduction of Ste. Lucie in 1796, the battle of the Nile in 1798, and in divers operations on the coast of Italy, including the capture of Naples, Genoa, &c. Being confirmed to a Lieutenancy, 25 Dec. 1800, in the Florentine 36, Capt. John Broughton, he assisted at the landing of the troops in Egypt in 1801, and for that service was presented with the Turkish gold medal. From May, 1803, until March, 1806, Mr. Forbes continued to be employed with Captain, afterwards Rear-Admiral Louis, in the Conqueror 74, Leopard 50, and Canopus 80, the last two years as his Flag-Lieutenant; during which period he commanded a squadron of boats in the celebrated Catamaran expedition against the Boulogne flotilla in 1804, was on board the Canopus in the action off St. Domingo 6 Feb. 1806, and came into collision with the batteries at Cadiz. After cruizing for a short period in the Channel, as First of the Acasta 40, Capt. Rich. Dalling Dunn, he removed, in that capacity, to the Royal George 100, bearing the flag of Sir John Thos. Duckworth, under whom he was wounded in the head and body at the passage of the Dardanelles in Feb. 1807.[1] With the latter officer Mr. Forbes afterwards served, until promoted to the rank of Commander, 17 March, 1812, in the San Josef 110, and, for some time as Acting-Captain, in the Antelope 50 – the last two years at Newfoundland, where he officiated as Surrogate and Justice of the Peace. Capt. Forbes’ last appointments were, 16 Dec. 1812, 6 Dec. 1813, and 12 April, 1814, to the Havock 10, Erebus 18, and Harrier of similar force, on the Baltic and Home stations. In the Erebus he conveyed Lord Castlereagb and Count Pozzo di Borgo to Helvoetsluys; and in the Harrier he took part in the grand review at Spithead. He left the latter vessel in July, 1814, and assumed the rank he now holds 26 March, 1844.
Capt. Forbes, who has received a gratuity from the Patriotic Fund in consideration of his wounds, is a member of the Royal Astronomical and Agricultural Societies, and a Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant for Berkshire. He married, 22 July, 1814, Letitia Mary, daughter of the late Geo. White, Esq., of Newington House, co. Oxford, and of the Isle of Thanet, by whom he has had issue four eons and three daughters. Of the former, James William, the eldest, died a Lieutenant in the 13th Foot, 29 Jan. 1839. The third, Frederick Edwyn, is a Lieutenant R.N.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1807, p. 597.