{{Short description|British Army officer}} {{redirect|General Forbes}} {{Use British English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox military person | name = John Forbes | image = General John Forbes from the Darlington Digital Collection University of Pittsburgh.JPG | caption = A portrait of Forbes | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1707|09|05|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Dunfermline]], Scotland | death_date = {{Death date and age|1759|03|11|1707|09|05|df=yes}} | death_place = [[Philadelphia]], [[British America]] | burial_place = [[Christ Church, Philadelphia]] | allegiance = {{flag|Kingdom of Great Britain}} | branch = {{army|Kingdom of Great Britain}} | service_years = 1735–1759 | rank = [[Brigadier-general (United Kingdom)|Brigadier-General]] | unit = [[Royal Leicestershire Regiment|17th Foot]] 1757–1759 | commands = | battles = {{tree list}} * '''[[War of the Austrian Succession]]''' ** [[Battle of Dettingen]] ** [[Battle of Fontenoy]] ** [[Battle of Lauffeld]] * '''[[French and Indian War]]''' ** [[Louisbourg Expedition (1757)]] ** [[Battle of Fort Duquesne]] {{tree list/end}} | awards = | relations = [[Duncan Forbes of Culloden (died 1747)|Duncan Forbes, Lord President]] | other_work = }}
[[Brigadier-general (United Kingdom)|Brigadier-General]] '''John Forbes''' (5 September 1707 – 11 March 1759) was a [[British Army]] officer. During the [[French and Indian War]], he commanded the 1758 [[Forbes Expedition]] which occupied the French outpost of [[Fort Duquesne]]. This required the construction of a military trail known as the [[Forbes Road]], which became an important route for settlement of the [[Western United States]]. Forbes died in [[Philadelphia]] and was buried in the chancel of [[Christ Church, Philadelphia]].
==Life== [[File:Pittencrieff House, Dunfermline Fife.jpg|thumb|left|180px|The family home, [[Pittencrieff Park]]; sold in 1763]] John Forbes was born in [[Dunfermline]] on 5 September 1707, youngest child of Colonel John Forbes, 1658–1707, who died several months before his birth, and Elizabeth Graham, daughter of an Edinburgh merchant. His uncle, [[Duncan Forbes, 3rd of Culloden]] (1644-1704), was a prominent supporter of [[William III of England|William of Orange]] and obtained his brother John an army commission.{{sfn|Du Toit|2004|p=Online}}
In 1701, Colonel Forbes purchased [[Pittencrieff Park]], near [[Dunfermline]], and it was here John grew up. He had five elder sisters, of whom little is known, and two older brothers; Arthur (1703-1757), who inherited the estate, and Hugh (1704-1760), who became a lawyer.{{sfn|Oliphant|2015|p=3}} All three of the Forbes brothers had problems with money; John borrowed large sums to pursue his military career, while Arthur ruined himself expanding Pittencrief, which was sold after his death.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pittencrieff House |url=https://www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk/the-best-castles/stately-homes-and-mansions/pittencrieff-house/ |website=Castles of Scotland |access-date=7 September 2019}}</ref>
Forbes married Anna Donald and had a daughter Anna.
==Career== [[File:James Campbell of Lawers (1667-1745), by follower of Jean-Baptiste van Loo.jpg|thumb|right|150px| [[James Campbell (British Army officer, died 1745)|James Campbell of Lawers, (1690-1745)]], colonel of the Scots Greys and commander of the Allied cavalry in Flanders]] The Forbes family were prominent civic leaders in [[Inverness]], who supported the succession of [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] in 1714 and were political allies of the [[John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll|Campbell Dukes of Argyll]]. John's cousin [[Duncan Forbes, 5th of Culloden]] (1685-1747), became [[Lord President of the Court of Session|senior Scottish legal officer]] in 1737 and played a key role in suppressing the [[1745 Jacobite Rising]]. These personal connections were essential; like many contemporaries, John was also a [[Freemasonry|Freemason]], another of the informal networks needed for a successful public career in this period.{{sfn|Oliphant|2015|p=4}}
Educated locally in [[Dunfermline]], Forbes is thought to have studied medicine at [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh University]].{{sfn|Waddell|2005|p=ANB Online}} In September 1729, he was appointed surgeon in the [[Royal Scots Greys]],{{efn|Officially known as the 2nd Dragoons}} then based in Scotland. He remained with the regiment for the next 28 years but gave up his medical post in 1735, when he was commissioned as a [[Cornet (rank)|cornet]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kensington, George R., et al., "George the Second..." Docketed: " John Forbes Surgeon for the Royal Regiment of North British Dragoons " |url=https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=uva-sc/viu00124.xml |website=University of Virginia Library |access-date=7 September 2019}}</ref>
The long period of peace from 1713 to 1739 meant limited opportunities for promotion, while the [[Purchase of commissions in the British Army|commission purchase system]] worked against those like Forbes with little money.{{efn|Ability to pay was one factor; length of service determined first right of refusal, while purchases had to be approved by senior officers}} It was not until April 1742 he was promoted [[lieutenant]], shortly before the regiment was posted to the [[Austrian Netherlands]] to fight in the [[War of the Austrian Succession]].{{sfn|Grant|1972|p=9}} Forbes became [[Aide-de-camp#United Kingdom|aide-de-camp]] to [[James Campbell (British Army officer, died 1745)|James Campbell of Lawers, (1690-1745)]], colonel of the Scots Greys and commander of the Allied cavalry. He fought at [[Battle of Dettingen|Dettingen]] in June 1743 and in September 1744, purchased a commission as captain.<ref>{{cite web |title=Peteghem, George Wade, et al., "George Wade Esqr. Field Marshal..." 1744 September 24" |url=https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=uva-sc/viu00124.xml |website=University of Virginia Library |access-date=7 September 2019}}</ref> [[File:Duncan Forbes of Culloden by Jeremiah Davison.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Forbes' cousin, [[Duncan Forbes, 5th of Culloden|Duncan]], (1685-1747), appointed [[Lord President of the Court of Session|Lord President of Scotland]] in 1737]] At [[Battle of Fontenoy|Fontenoy]] in May 1745, Campbell sent Forbes with instructions to [[Richard Ingoldsby (British Army officer, died 1759)|Brigadier General Ingoldsby]] on the Allied right, ordering him to attack a French [[redoubt]] whose fire was impeding their advance. One shot badly wounded Sir James, who was carried from the field; Forbes stayed with him after the Allies retreated and was taken prisoner. He was soon exchanged but Campbell died a few days later and Forbes' letters display genuine grief at his death.{{sfn|Oliphant|2015|p=55}}
Many viewed Fontenoy as a 'defeat snatched from the jaws of victory', and in the recriminations that followed, Ingoldsby was [[court-martial]]led. The grounds were his failure to comply with three separate orders to attack the French position, given by Campbell, [[Prince William, Duke of Cumberland|Cumberland]], the Allied commander, and [[John Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier|Ligonier]]. Ingoldsby claimed he received conflicting instructions and attempted to blame Forbes, who testified at his trial. While he had some justification, any confusion was caused by Cumberland, not Forbes; in any case, this was not considered an adequate excuse and Ingoldsby was forced to resign.{{sfn|Skrine|1906|pp=233}}
For reasons that are unclear, unlike many who fought at Fontenoy Forbes did not benefit from Cumberland's patronage, although he was appointed aide to the elderly [[John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair|Earl of Stair]], (1673-1747), Campbell's successor as colonel of the Scots Greys. Some units were sent to Britain in October to put down the 1745 Rising, but not the cavalry, since transporting horses by sea was considered impractical during the winter months. Stair was military commander of Southern Britain and Forbes may have served there for a short period but contrary to legend, he was not present at [[Battle of Culloden|Culloden]].{{sfn|Oliphant|2015|p=56}} Instead, he returned to Flanders in December 1745 as [[Quartermaster general#United Kingdom|Deputy Quartermaster-General]] and was a major when [[Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)|the war ended]] in 1748.<ref>{{cite web |title=Court at St. James's, George R, et al., "George the Second..." Docketed: " John Forbes, Esqr: Major to the Royal Regiment of North British Dragoons " |url=https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=uva-sc/viu00124.xml|website=University of Virginia Library |access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref>
Forbes spent the next few years on garrison duty in different parts of Britain and in November 1750, purchased a commission as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Scots Greys.<ref>{{cite web |title=Court at St. James's, George R. "George the Second..." Docketed: " John Forbes, Esqr: Lieutenant Colonel to the Earl of Rothes's Regiment of North British Dragoons " 1750 November 29 |url=https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=uva-sc/viu00124.xml |website=University of Virginia |access-date=9 September 2019}}</ref> To do so, he borrowed £5,000 but with limited opportunities for further advancement, his debts became an increasingly large problem.{{sfn|Oliphant|2015|p=71}}
==The Forbes Expedition== [[File:French British Forts 1753 1758.png|thumb|right|200px|{{center|Forbes Road}}]] The [[Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)|Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle]] set up a commission to resolve territorial disputes between British and French colonies in North America, including the [[Ohio Country]], [[Acadia|French Acadia]] and [[Nova Scotia]]. Neither side was willing to make concessions, which led to the 1754-1763 [[French and Indian War]]; in 1755, an [[Braddock Expedition|expedition under General Braddock]] to capture [[Fort Duquesne]] ended in a disastrous defeat.{{sfn|Royle|2016|pp=167-168}}
When the global conflict known as the [[Seven Years' War]] began in 1756, James Campbell's nephew, the [[John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun|Earl of Loudoun]], was appointed [[Commander-in-Chief, North America]] and Governor General of [[Colony of Virginia|Virginia]]. In early 1757, Forbes was in Southern England, training a 'light company' of the Scots Greys for attacks on the French coast.{{sfn|Oliphant|2015|p=76}} In March, he was promoted colonel of the [[Royal Leicestershire Regiment|17th Foot]], part of a force of 5,400 sent to Nova Scotia for an attempt on Louisbourg.{{sfn|Oliphant|2015|p=81}}
Following the failure of the [[Louisbourg Expedition (1757)|1757 Louisbourg Expedition]], Forbes was promoted [[Brigadier general]] in December 1757 and [[Forbes Expedition|given command of another attack]] on Fort Duquesne. His force contained 1,400 regulars, 400 from the [[King's Royal Rifle Corps|Royal American Regiment]], commanded by the experienced Swiss mercenary, Lt-Colonel [[Henry Bouquet]], along with 1,000 Scots who made up [[78th Fraser Highlanders|Montgomerie's Highlanders]]. There were also 5,000 provincial militia from Virginia and Pennsylvania, commanded by [[George Washington]], who had carried messages to Fort Le Boeuf in 1753, and accompanied Braddock in 1755.{{sfn|Royle|2016|p=205}} [[File:Henry Bouquet.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Lt-Colonel [[Henry Bouquet]] (1719-1765), Forbes' experienced Swiss-German deputy]] Forbes decided to build a new road from the [[Pennsylvania]] frontier, since it required fewer river crossings than that used by Braddock, which followed a trail cut in 1752 by the Virginia-based [[Ohio Company]]. The decision led to protests from his Virginian officers, many of whom were investors in the company, including two of Washington's brothers.{{sfn|Toner|1897|p=190}}
As a compromise, Forbes agreed to improve Braddock's original road, but use the route through Pennsylvania. A base was established at [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]], and a trail cut through the [[Allegheny Mountains]], which became the [[Forbes Road]]. Already severely ill, Forbes had to be carried in a litter and relied heavily on Bouquet, who commanded the advance guard. Construction of the road and bases such as [[Fort Ligonier]] was supervised by Lt-Colonel John St Clair, who proved to be incompetent and required Forbes to do much of the work, despite his poor health.{{sfn|Cubbison|2010|p=16}}
A less appreciated aspect of Forbes' leadership was in building relationships with local Native Americans, who previously refused to co-operate with the British. These efforts were bolstered by the capture of [[Battle of Fort Frontenac|Fort Frontenac]] in August, increasing British prestige, while the loss of French traders severely impacted the local economy.{{sfn|Royle|2016|p=206}} This methodical approach was jeopardised by the [[Battle of Fort Duquesne]], on 15 September 1758, when a column under Major James Grant advanced too far ahead of the main body and suffered over 300 casualties. Forbes decided to suspend operations but on 26 October, 13 Ohio Valley tribes signed the [[Treaty of Easton]] with Pennsylvania and [[New Jersey]].{{sfn|Royle|2016|p=207}}
After the loss of their local allies, the French abandoned Fort Duquesne and the British took possession on 25 November. Forbes ordered the construction of [[Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania)|Fort Pitt]], named after British Secretary of State [[William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham|Pitt the Elder]]. He also established a settlement between the rivers, the site of modern [[Pittsburgh]].{{sfn|Lorant|1999|p=103}} His health rapidly declined during the campaign; described as a 'wasting disease', this is thought to have been stomach cancer, combined with severe [[dysentery]].
On 3 December 1758, he left Colonel [[Hugh Mercer]] in command and returned to [[Philadelphia]], where he died on 11 March 1759 and was buried with full military honours. His final correspondence with [[Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst|Lord Amherst]], the new commander in North America, included the recommendation he make his relationship with Native Americans a priority and 'not to think lightly of them or their friendship.'{{sfn|Royle|2016|p=208}}{{efn|During the Pontiac Rebellion in 1763, Fort Pitt suffered an outbreak of smallpox; Amherst and Bouquet discussed giving infected blankets to the local tribes}}
==Legacy== [[Forbes Field]], now demolished but which formerly served as the home field for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] and the [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|Pitt Panthers football team]], was named after John Forbes. Forbes Field was America's first all-steel and concrete baseball stadium. [[Forbes Avenue]], one of the city of Pittsburgh's principal boulevards, runs from the [[Monongahela River]] in [[Downtown Pittsburgh]] to [[Frick Park]] and the start of the eastern suburbs. It is named in his honor and roughly follows his colonial road.<ref>{{cite book |title= Diamonds: The Evolution of the Ballpark|url= https://archive.org/details/diamondsevolutio0000gers|url-access= registration|last= Gershman|first= Michael|year= 1993|publisher= [[Houghton Mifflin]]|location= Boston|isbn= 0-395-61212-8}}. </ref> John Forbes Lane in [[Kanpur]] running from [[British India Corporation]] to Huddard High School is named in his memory.
==Footnotes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Sources== * {{cite book |last1=Cubbison |first1=Douglas |title=The British Defeat of the French in Pennsylvania, 1758: A Military History of the Forbes Campaign Against Fort Duquesne |date=2010 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-0786447398 }} * {{cite ODNB |last1=Du Toit |first1=Alexandre |title=Forbes, Duncan (b. in or after 1643, d. 1704) |date=2004 |edition=Online |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/9821 }} * {{cite book |last1=Grant |first1=Charles |others=illustrated by Michael Youens |title=Royal Scots Greys (Men-at-Arms) |date=1972 |publisher=Osprey |isbn=978-0850450590 }} * {{cite ODNB |last1=Lloyd |first1=EM |title=Forbes, John (1707-1759) |date=2004 |edition=Online |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/9837 }} * {{cite book |last1=Lorant |first1=Stefan |title=Pittsburgh, The Story of an American City |date=1999 |publisher=Larsen's Outdoor Publishing |isbn=978-0967410302}} * {{cite book |last1=Oliphant |first1=John |title=John Forbes: Scotland, Flanders and the Seven Years' War, 1707-1759 |date=2015 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1472511188 }} * {{cite book |last1=Royle |first1=Trevor |title=Culloden; Scotland's Last Battle and the Forging of the British Empire|date=2016 |publisher=Little, Brown |isbn=978-1408704011}} * {{cite book |last1=Skrine |first1=Francis Henry |title=Fontenoy and Great Britain's Share in the War of the Austrian Succession 1741–48 |date=1906|publisher=Forgotten Books |isbn=978-0260413550|edition=2018}} * [[Charles M. Stotz]], ''Outposts of the War for Empire: The French and English in Western Pennsylvania: Their Armies, Their Forts, Their People, 1749-1764'' (Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1985). * {{cite journal |last1=Toner |first1=JM |title=Washington in the Forbes Expedition of 1758 |journal=Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. |date=1897 |volume=1 |pages=185–213 |jstor=40066707 }} * {{cite book |last1=Waddell |first1=Louis M |title=Forbes, John (1707-1759) |date=2005 |publisher=ANB Online |edition=Online |doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0100293 }} * Louis M. Waddell and Bruce D. Bomberger, ''The French and Indian War in Pennsylvania:Fortification and Struggle During the War for Empire'' (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1996).
== External links == * {{cite web |title=John Forbes 1707-1759 |url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7596861/john-forbes |website=Findagrave.com |access-date=7 September 2019}} * {{cite web |title=Kensington, George R., et al., "George the Second..." Docketed: " John Forbes Surgeon for the Royal Regiment of North British Dragoons " |url=https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=uva-sc/viu00124.xml |website=University of Virginia Library |access-date=7 September 2019}} * {{cite web |title=Court at St. James's, George R, et al., "George the Second..." Docketed: " John Forbes, Esqr:, Deputy Quarter Master General" 1745 December 24 |url=https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=uva-sc/viu00124.xml |website=University of Virginia Library |access-date=7 September 2019}} * {{cite web |title=Pittencrieff House |url=https://www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk/the-best-castles/stately-homes-and-mansions/pittencrieff-house/ |website=Castles of Scotland |access-date=7 September 2019}} *[http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/forbes_john_1707_1759_3E.html Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online'']
{{Authority control}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef | before=Edward Richbell}} {{s-ttl | title=Colonel of [[17th Regiment of Foot]] | years=1757–1759}} {{s-aft | after=[[Robert Monckton]]}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forbes, John}} [[Category:1707 births]] [[Category:1759 deaths]] [[Category:British Army brigadier-generals]] [[Category:British Army personnel of the War of the Austrian Succession]] [[Category:British Army personnel of the French and Indian War]] [[Category:People from Dunfermline]] [[Category:Royal Scots Greys officers]] [[Category:Royal Leicestershire Regiment officers]] [[Category:Scottish Freemasons]] [[Category:British Army regimental surgeons]] [[Category:Burials at Christ Church (Philadelphia)]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]] [[Category:Military personnel from Fife]] [[Category:18th-century surgeons]]