James Forbes, 18th Lord Forbes facts for kids
James Ochoncar Forbes (born 1765, died 1843) was a Scottish soldier and a Lord. He was known as the 18th Lord Forbes. His family, the Forbes family, had owned land in Forbes, Aberdeenshire for a very long time. They had these lands since the time of William the Lion, a king who ruled from 1165 to 1214. James was the oldest son of the 17th Lord Forbes, James Forbes.
A Life in the Army
James Forbes started his army career when he was just 16 years old. He joined the Coldstream Guards in 1781. Over the years, he moved up through the ranks. He became a lieutenant and captain in 1786. By 1819, he had reached the highest rank of general.
He fought in many important battles and sieges. These took place in a region called Flanders. Some of the battles he was part of include Raismes, Famars, and Tournay. He also took part in the Siege of Dunkirk.
Later, he joined the Helder Expedition. He was involved in almost every fight during that campaign. In 1808, he became the second-in-command of soldiers in the Mediterranean Sea area. He then sailed to Sicily.
He was also a colonel for several different army regiments. These included the 94th Foot and the 21st Foot. He held this position until he passed away. He was also given a special award called the Order of Saint Januarius.
Building Castle Forbes
In 1804, James Forbes became the 18th Lord Forbes after his father died. Two years later, in 1806, he was chosen to be a representative peer. This meant he could represent Scottish nobles in the British Parliament.
In 1815, he decided to build a new Castle Forbes. It was built on the site of an older house. The famous architect Archibald Simpson designed the new castle.
Family Life
From 1825 to 1830, Lord Forbes held an important role. He was the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This role connected him to the Church of Scotland.
James Forbes passed away on May 4, 1843. He was 78 years old. He died in Bregenz, a town near Lake Constance.
He had married Elizabeth Hunter in 1792. She was the daughter of Walter Hunter. They had ten children together.
His oldest son, James Forbes, was also a soldier. He fought in the Peninsula and at the Battle of Waterloo. Sadly, this son died in 1835, before his father. Because of this, James Forbes was succeeded by his second son, Walter Forbes, 18th Baron Forbes.
His daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth, married Sir John Forbes. She was the mother of William Forbes-Sempill, 17th Lord Sempill.
