John Forbes (Portuguese general) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Forbes
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John Forbes in Portuguese Army uniform
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| Born | 1733 Aberdeenshire, Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Died | 8 April 1808 (aged 74–75) Rio de Janeiro, Portuguese colony of Brazil |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain Kingdom of Portugal |
| Years of service | 1748–1808 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Seven Years' War War of the Pyrenees |
John Forbes, also known as João Forbes in Portuguese, was a Scottish general. He was born in 1733 and died in 1808. He spent most of his military career serving the Portuguese army.
Contents
Early Life and Military Start
John Forbes was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His father was Patrick Forbes.
He joined the army when he was just 15 years old. He volunteered during the Siege of Maestricht in 1748. This was a big battle where armies tried to capture a city. He did well and earned a special rank as an officer.
Serving Portugal
Forbes was a type of soldier known as a "soldier of fortune." This means he would work for any country that needed his skills. When Portugal asked Britain for officers to help train their army, Forbes was one of the first to volunteer.
He helped defend Portugal during the Franco-Spanish invasions in 1762. These invasions were part of the Seven Years' War. Portugal was attacked by armies from France and Spain.
Life in Portugal
After the Seven Years' War ended, Forbes stayed in Portugal. He was a Roman Catholic and married a Portuguese woman. This made it easy for him to continue working there.
For many years, he was the adjutant-general of the Portuguese army. This job meant he helped manage the army's daily operations. In 1789, he was asked to step down from this role. Some Portuguese officers were jealous of him. However, he was given an important award, the Order of Aviz, and promoted to the rank of general.
War of the Pyrenees
Later, Portugal decided to join the French Revolutionary Wars. They sent soldiers to help the Spanish army fight in the War of the Pyrenees. General Forbes was chosen to lead these Portuguese troops.
The Portuguese soldiers fought bravely in this war. However, the Spanish commanders often disagreed with each other. Forbes also had problems with his own adjutant-general, Gomes Freire de Andrade. In the end, the French army defeated the combined Spanish and Portuguese forces. Forbes returned to Portugal with his soldiers.
Later Years and Death
After the War of the Pyrenees, Forbes was too old for more active fighting. When the French army, led by Jean-Andoche Junot, invaded Portugal, the Portuguese royal family decided to leave. Queen Mary I and the prince regent, along with the court, fled to Brazil.
General Forbes went with them. When they arrived in Brazil, he was made the governor of Rio de Janeiro. He died there on April 8, 1808.
