Robert Forbes (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Robert Forbes was the bishop of Ross and Caithness for the Scottish Episcopal Church
. He is best remembered for his vocal Jacobite
views.
in Aberdeenshire
, where his father was schoolmaster. He was educated at Marischal College
, Aberdeen
(A.M. 1726). In 1735 he went to Edinburgh
, was ordained priest by Bishop David Freebairn, and was shortly appointed minister of the episcopal congregation at Leith
, a town which was his home for the rest of his life. In his room there, in 1740, John Skinner received baptism at his hands.
On 7 September 1745, when Prince Charles Edward was on his descent from the Highlands, Forbes was one of three episcopal clergymen who were arrested at St. Ninians
, near Stirling
, suspected of intending to join the rebels, confined in Stirling Castle
till 4 February 1746, and in Edinburgh Castle
until 29 May.
In 1762 the episcopal clergy of Ross and Caithness elected him their bishop, and he was consecrated at Forfar
on 24 June by the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
, William Falconer, with Bishops Andrew Gerard and Alexander. He continued to live at Leith, but made two visitations of his northern flock in 1762 and 1770. In 1764 he had a new church built for him, where he gathered a good congregation; but he would not ‘qualify’ according to law, and he was soon reported to government. Soldiers were sent to his meeting to see whether he prayed for King George III, and he was summoned before the colonel-commanding (Dalrymple). An account of the interview that ensued is preserved in his third ‘Journal.’ He made no submission, but thought it better to have his services without singing; and, receiving advice from a friend, he went for some weeks to London. There he worshipped with the remnant of the nonjurors
, and received from their bishop Robert Gordon a staff that had once belonged to George Hickes
. In the same year he was at a meeting of Jacobites at Moffat
, when proposals were discussed for the continuance of the Stuart line and the Stuart pretensions by marrying Charles Edward to a Protestant.
On the death of Gerard, Forbes was elected bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney in 1765, but difficulties arose and he declined the appointment.
Forbes died at Leith 18 November 1775, and was buried in the Maltman's aisle of South Leith parish church.
.
In the bishop's own lifetime appeared An Essay on Christian Burial, and the Respect due to Burying-Grounds, by a ‘Ruling Elder of the Church of Scotland’ (1765), and an Account of the Chapel of Roslin (1774).
His major work is the ‘Lyon in Mourning,’ ten octavo
volumes in manuscript, bound in black, and filled with collections relative to the Jacobite Rising 1745 with which are bound up a number of relics of the same expedition. Among those interviewed in detail for the project was the Scottish Gaelic poet and Jacobite propagandist Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair
.
The volumes date from 1747 to 1775; extracts from them were published (1834) under the title of Jacobite Memoirs, by Robert Chambers, from the originals in the Advocates' Library
, Edinburgh. An edition appeared in 1895: The Lyon in Mourning, edited by Henry Paton, Scottish History Society, Edinburgh.
, was as enthusiastic a Jacobite as her husband. The bishop permitted favoured guests to drink out of Prince Charlie's brogues; she sent to the ‘royal exile’ the seed-cake which Oliphant of Gask presented to him.
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
. He is best remembered for his vocal Jacobite
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...
views.
Life
Forbes was born in 1708 at RayneRayne
-Place names:United States*Rayne, Louisiana**Rayne High School*Rayne Township, Indiana County, PennsylvaniaUnited Kingdom*Rayne, Essex, England*Rayne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland-People:*Dana Rayne, singer*Max Rayne, Baron Rayne, British philanthropist...
in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, where his father was schoolmaster. He was educated at Marischal College
Marischal College
Marischal College is a building and former university in the centre of the city of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland. The building is owned by the University of Aberdeen and used for ceremonial events...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
(A.M. 1726). In 1735 he went to 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...
, was ordained priest by Bishop David Freebairn, and was shortly appointed minister of the episcopal congregation at Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
, a town which was his home for the rest of his life. In his room there, in 1740, John Skinner received baptism at his hands.
On 7 September 1745, when Prince Charles Edward was on his descent from the Highlands, Forbes was one of three episcopal clergymen who were arrested at St. Ninians
St. Ninians
St. Ninians is a long-standing settlement which is now a district of the city of Stirling in central Scotland. It is located approximately one mile south of the city centre....
, near Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
, suspected of intending to join the rebels, confined in Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep...
till 4 February 1746, and in Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
until 29 May.
In 1762 the episcopal clergy of Ross and Caithness elected him their bishop, and he was consecrated at Forfar
Forfar
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh of approximately 13,500 people in Angus, located in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland. Forfar is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1929, when the ancient name was reinstated, and...
on 24 June by the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
The Primus, styled The Most Reverend the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, is the presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The current Primus is the Most Revd David Chillingworth who became Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church on 13 June 2009...
, William Falconer, with Bishops Andrew Gerard and Alexander. He continued to live at Leith, but made two visitations of his northern flock in 1762 and 1770. In 1764 he had a new church built for him, where he gathered a good congregation; but he would not ‘qualify’ according to law, and he was soon reported to government. Soldiers were sent to his meeting to see whether he prayed for King George III, and he was summoned before the colonel-commanding (Dalrymple). An account of the interview that ensued is preserved in his third ‘Journal.’ He made no submission, but thought it better to have his services without singing; and, receiving advice from a friend, he went for some weeks to London. There he worshipped with the remnant of the nonjurors
Nonjuring schism
The nonjuring schism was a split in the Church of England in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, over whether William of Orange and his wife Mary could legally be recognised as King and Queen of England....
, and received from their bishop Robert Gordon a staff that had once belonged to George Hickes
George Hickes
George Hickes was an English divine and scholar.-Biography:Hickes was born at Newsham, near Thirsk, Yorkshire, in 1642...
. In the same year he was at a meeting of Jacobites at Moffat
Moffat
Moffat is a former burgh and spa town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, lying on the River Annan, with a population of around 2,500. The most notable building in the town is the Moffat House Hotel, designed by John Adam...
, when proposals were discussed for the continuance of the Stuart line and the Stuart pretensions by marrying Charles Edward to a Protestant.
On the death of Gerard, Forbes was elected bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney in 1765, but difficulties arose and he declined the appointment.
Forbes died at Leith 18 November 1775, and was buried in the Maltman's aisle of South Leith parish church.
Works
Forbes began about 1760 to write in the Edinburgh Magazine, his articles being chiefly topographical and antiquarian. He took part in updating the communion office of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the editions of 1763, 1764, and 1765 being printed under his supervision. The Journals of his episcopal visitations were edited in 1886 by James Brown CravenJames Brown Craven
Archdeacon James Brown Craven was author of the History of the Church in Orkney and several other works on ecclesiastical history...
.
In the bishop's own lifetime appeared An Essay on Christian Burial, and the Respect due to Burying-Grounds, by a ‘Ruling Elder of the Church of Scotland’ (1765), and an Account of the Chapel of Roslin (1774).
His major work is the ‘Lyon in Mourning,’ ten octavo
Octavo
Octavo to is a technical term describing the format of a book.Octavo may also refer to:* Octavo is a grimoire in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett...
volumes in manuscript, bound in black, and filled with collections relative to the Jacobite Rising 1745 with which are bound up a number of relics of the same expedition. Among those interviewed in detail for the project was the Scottish Gaelic poet and Jacobite propagandist Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair
Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair
Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair was a Scottish poet, lexicographer, political writer and memoirist, respected as perhaps the finest Gaelic language poet of the 18th century...
.
The volumes date from 1747 to 1775; extracts from them were published (1834) under the title of Jacobite Memoirs, by Robert Chambers, from the originals in the Advocates' Library
Advocates' Library
The Advocates' Library is a law library belonging to the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh, founded in 1682. Until 1925 it was the deposit library for Scotland, after which the role was taken on by the National Library of Scotland....
, Edinburgh. An edition appeared in 1895: The Lyon in Mourning, edited by Henry Paton, Scottish History Society, Edinburgh.
Family
He was twice married. His second wife, Rachel, daughter of Ludovick Houston of JohnstonJohnston
Johnston may refer to Johnston . It may also refer to:In places:* Johnston Atoll, in the central Pacific Ocean* Johnston, Pembrokeshire, Wales* United States** Johnston, Iowa** Johnston, Rhode Island** Johnston, South Carolina...
, was as enthusiastic a Jacobite as her husband. The bishop permitted favoured guests to drink out of Prince Charlie's brogues; she sent to the ‘royal exile’ the seed-cake which Oliphant of Gask presented to him.