John Forrest was a Presbyterian

Presbyterianism

Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...

 minister and educator in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

, Canada. He was president of Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...

 from 1885 to 1910.

He was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia

New Glasgow, Nova Scotia

New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait....

, the son of physician Alexander Forrest, an immigrant from Scotland

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...

, and Barbara Ross McKenzie, and was educated at the Free Church College in Halifax

City of Halifax

Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...

, and graduated from the Presbyterian College at Truro in 1865, then received the Doctor of Divinity degree from Queen's University, Kingston, in 1873. He was ordained in 1866 and became the pastor for St. John's Church in Halifax. Forrest married Annie Prescott Duff in 1871. In 1878, he became the representative for the Presbyterian Church on the board of governors for Dalhousie University. Forrest resigned as pastor in 1881 to become professor of history at Dalhousie. During his term as president, the law school

Dalhousie Law School

The Schulich School of Law is part of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Formerly called Dalhousie Law School, it was established in 1883, making it the oldest university-affiliated common law school in the Commonwealth. It is the primary law school in Atlantic Canada and...

 was formed, the Halifax Medical College and the Maritime Dental College were affiliated with the university and a faculty of engineering was established. He also served as Moderator for the Presbyterian Church in Canada and president of the Nova Scotia Historical Society. Forrest died in Halifax at the age of 77.

His sister Catherine married George Munro, an important patron of Dalhousie University. His sister Isabella was also a philanthropist. He had five children: one son William

William Duff Forrest

William Duff Forrest was a physician and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Halifax Centre in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1937 to 1939 as a Liberal member....

served as a member of the provincial assembly.

The Forrest Building on the Dalhousie campus was named in his honour.