Duncan Forbes of Culloden
Encyclopedia
Duncan Forbes was a Scottish
politician, and supporter of the House of Hanover
.
. His father owned the estate of Culloden
and was MP for Nairnshire.
He studied law in Edinburgh
and Leiden and in 1709 became Sheriff of Midlothian
. In 1722 he became MP for Inverness and in 1735 inherited his father's Culloden estate.
He was a Commissioner
to the Parliament of Scotland
. In recognition of the fact that his support of the crown had led to severe harassment by supporters of James Stuart
, he was granted special dispensation to distil whisky
without being taxed.
His son (1685–1747) was also named Duncan Forbes, and shared his father's politics, fighting against the Jacobites
. The Forbeses lived in Culloden
, near the site of the Battle of Culloden
, and Forbes was directly protecting his estate. The younger Forbes also became Lord President of the Court of Session
.
In Parliament Hall in Edinburgh a large marble statue of Forbes, in seated position, stands against one wall. Said to be the first statue of a "commoner"
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
politician, and supporter of the House of Hanover
House of Hanover
The House of Hanover is a deposed German royal dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
.
Life
Born and educated in InvernessInverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
. His father owned the estate of Culloden
Culloden
Culloden may refer to any of the following:*Culloden, Highland, a village in Scotland**The Battle of Culloden, a battle which took place there in 1746...
and was MP for Nairnshire.
He studied law in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Leiden and in 1709 became Sheriff of Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
. In 1722 he became MP for Inverness and in 1735 inherited his father's Culloden estate.
He was a Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
to the Parliament of Scotland
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
. In recognition of the fact that his support of the crown had led to severe harassment by supporters of James Stuart
James Francis Edward Stuart
James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales was the son of the deposed James II of England...
, he was granted special dispensation to distil whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
without being taxed.
His son (1685–1747) was also named Duncan Forbes, and shared his father's politics, fighting against the Jacobites
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
. The Forbeses lived in Culloden
Culloden, Scotland
Culloden is the name of a village three miles east of Inverness, Scotland and the surrounding area. Three miles south of the village is Drummossie Moor , site of the Battle of Culloden....
, near the site of the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
, and Forbes was directly protecting his estate. The younger Forbes also became Lord President of the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
.
Memorials
The primary school in Culloden is named Duncan Forbes Primary, after the family.In Parliament Hall in Edinburgh a large marble statue of Forbes, in seated position, stands against one wall. Said to be the first statue of a "commoner"