George Forbes, 3rd Earl of Granard facts for kids

George Forbes, 3rd Earl of Granard (born October 21, 1685 – died June 19, 1765) was an important figure in British history. He was a skilled naval commander, a diplomat, and a politician. He played a role in the Capture of Gibraltar and even served briefly as the Governor of the Leeward Islands. Forbes also helped to end the career of a powerful politician named Robert Walpole before he retired from public life.

George Forbes: His Early Life

Batteries, a Quarry and a Barrier are named for Forbes on Gibraltar

George Forbes was born in Ireland on October 21, 1685. His father was Arthur Forbes, 2nd Earl of Granard, and his mother was Mary Rawdon. For a time, he studied at Drogheda Grammar School.

When George was about twelve years old, his grandfather, Arthur Forbes, 1st Earl of Granard, passed away. In 1702, George went to London with his grandmother. There, he met Admiral George Churchill, a very important naval officer. George Forbes wanted to join the navy, and Churchill helped him get started.

George Forbes's Naval Career

George Forbes began his naval career on the ship Royal Anne in Portsmouth. He quickly became a lieutenant in the marines. In 1704, he was a midshipman on HMS St George. He was part of the Capture of Gibraltar and fought in the Battle of Málaga that same year. Forbes became the heir to his family's earldom after his older brother died from wounds received at the Battle of Blenheim.

In 1705, Forbes was a second lieutenant on the frigate Triton. This ship was very active and captured many French privateer ships in the English Channel. He was also at the siege of Ostend in 1706. Later, he became captain of the frigate Lynn, which protected trade ships going to the Baltic Sea.

Important Naval Missions

Forbes commanded several ships, including the Gosport and the Leopard. In 1707, he was also appointed as a brigadier in the horse-guards. This was a military rank, similar to a captain. He later commanded the Sunderland, a 60-gun ship.

In 1709, Forbes was given command of the Grafton, a 70-gun ship. He sailed to the Mediterranean with Sir John Norris in 1710. During this time, he worked closely with Charles III of Spain. Charles III asked Forbes to capture two Genoese ships that were carrying a lot of money, believed to be for France. Even though England was at peace with Genoa, Forbes agreed after the queen of Spain promised to protect him.

Forbes captured the ships and a huge amount of money (1.6 million dollars). Charles III was very pleased and offered Forbes a large sum of money. However, Forbes was unsure if the capture was legal. He waited for instructions from England. Eventually, the British government decided to keep the treasure and pay back Genoa. Forbes received £6,000 for his part in this valuable capture.

In 1711, Forbes helped the army in Spain. He led 300 cavalrymen. However, peace talks began, and his new regiment was never fully formed.

Governor of Menorca

In 1712, Forbes commanded the Greenwich ship. After the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, he commanded a small group of ships in the Mediterranean. He lived in Menorca with his family. In 1717, he became the lieutenant-governor of St. Phillipa castle in Menorca. He even acted as the island's governor during a short conflict with Spain in 1718. He made many improvements on the island, including stopping trials for witchcraft.

Working for the Emperor

When he returned home in 1719, King George I asked Forbes to go to Vienna. The emperor, Charles VI, wanted to create a navy, and Forbes was chosen to help. He was given the rank of vice-admiral in the imperial service. However, the emperor's ministers were not very supportive, and after two years, Forbes resigned. The emperor gave him a valuable diamond ring for his efforts.

In 1724, Forbes commanded the Canterbury in the Mediterranean. He helped defend Gibraltar against the Spanish in 1726–27. In 1727, Forbes and another ship captured a new Spanish warship near Cadiz. Later that year, Forbes, who had been a Member of Parliament in England, became a member of the Irish House of Lords, known as Baron Forbes.

Governor of the Leeward Islands

In 1729, Forbes was appointed Governor of the Leeward Islands. This was a group of islands in the Caribbean. He held this position for about a year before resigning.

In 1730, he suggested a plan to the government to start a new colony near Lake Erie in North America. This colony would help protect against French expansion from Canada. He wanted to lead this project himself, but the government did not approve the plan.

Diplomat in Russia

In 1733, Forbes became a special envoy and minister to Empress Anna of Russia. He successfully negotiated a trade agreement between Britain and Russia. This was the first such agreement Russia made with a European country. After he returned to England in 1734, the Empress, who liked him very much, offered him command of the Russian navy, but he declined. That same year, he became the Earl of Granard after his father passed away.

Later Years and Retirement

In 1737, Granard, who was interested in how countries manage their money, helped improve the currency in Ireland. In 1739, he was offered command of a squadron of ships for the West Indies. However, he believed the government was not serious about the conflict with Spain and declined. When a more senior admiral was brought back to service over him, Granard felt overlooked and refused to serve again. He officially resigned from the navy in 1742.

Some people confused him with his son, Admiral John Forbes, who continued to serve. But George Forbes, the 3rd Earl of Granard, had retired.

In 1741, Granard was elected to the British House of Commons for the Scottish towns of Ayr, Irvine, etc.. He played a very active role in the debates that led to Sir Robert Walpole leaving office in 1742. Granard was appointed to a committee to investigate Walpole's actions. However, he later disagreed with his colleagues and retired from public life.

He became a privy councillor of Ireland and was appointed Governor of County Westmeath and Longford in 1740, a position he held until 1756.

Family and Personal Life

George Forbes was of average height and slender. He had a dark complexion and strong features. He was very active and ate and drank very little, only water. He believed these habits helped him stay healthy. He loved to read and had an excellent memory. He also wrote several papers on topics like economics, geography, and the naval strengths of different countries.

In 1709, Lord Forbes married Hon. Mary Stewart Preston. Mary was the daughter of William Stewart, 1st Viscount Mountjoy. She had been married before and had two children from that marriage. With Mary, who passed away on October 4, 1755, Forbes had three children:

• George Forbes, 4th Earl of Granard (1710–1769): He served in the army and became a major-general.
• Hon. John Forbes (1714–1796): He became an Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Navy.
• Lady Mary Forbes (died 1797): She married James Irvine.

Lord Granard passed away in Ireland on June 19, 1765, at the age of 80.

His Children and Grandchildren

Through his eldest son, George Forbes was the grandfather of George Forbes, 5th Earl of Granard. This grandson was also a Member of Parliament.

Through his second son, John Forbes, he was the grandfather of twin girls: Katherine Forbes and Maria Forbes. Both of his granddaughters married into important families.

What He Left Behind

Forbes' Battery, a series of artillery batteries (places where cannons are set up) on Gibraltar, were named after George Forbes. Forbes' Quarry is also named after the battery. A very old Neanderthal skull, known as Gibraltar 1, was discovered in this quarry. After 1761, a refortified guard room in Gibraltar was renamed Forbes's Barrier.

Forbes' Barrier was one of only two routes, on each side of the Inundation, that approached the fortress of Gibraltar