Lord Forbes

Lord Forbes is the senior Lordship of Parliament in the Peerage of Scotland.

Lord Forbes
Creation date	circa 1436
Created by	James II
Peerage	Peerage of Scotland
First holder	Alexander de Forbes
Present holder	Malcolm Nigel Forbes, 23rd Lord Forbes
Heir apparent	Geordie Malcolm Andrew Forbes
Seat(s)	Forbes Castle, Alford, Aberdeenshire
^[1]^[2]

The title was created sometime after 1436 for Alexander de Forbes, feudal baron of Forbes. The precise date of the creation is not known, but in a Precept dated July 12, 1442, he is already styled Lord Forbes. Brown's 1834 Peerage of Scotland gives a creation year of 1440. Alexander's descendant, the twelfth Lord, served as Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire. His great-grandson, the seventeenth Lord, was a general in the Army and sat in the House of Lords as a Scottish representative peer from 1806 to 1843. His son, the eighteenth Lord, fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.^[3]

He was succeeded by his son, the nineteenth Lord. He was a Scottish Representative Peer from 1874 to 1906. His nephew, the twenty-first Lord, served as a Scottish Representative Peer between 1917 and 1924. The latter's son, the twenty-second Lord, sat in the House of Lords as a Scottish Representative Peer from 1955 to 1963, when all Scottish peers were given an automatic seat in the House of Lords, and served in the Conservative administration of Harold Macmillan as Minister of State for Scotland from 1958 to 1959.^[4] The title is currently held by his son, Malcolm Nigel, the twenty-third Lord Forbes, who succeeded in 2013. Lord Forbes is Chief of Clan Forbes.

Hon. Patrick Forbes, third son of the second Lord Forbes, was the ancestor of both the Earls of Granard and the Forbes baronets of Craigievar. Also, the Lords Forbes of Pitsligo were descended from Sir William Forbes, brother of Alexander Forbes, 1st Lord Forbes.

The family seat is Castle Forbes near Alford, Aberdeenshire.

Numbering matter

John Forbes (1570–1606), the elder surviving son of John Forbes, 8th Lord Forbes, became a friar and seemingly abandoned his claim to the Lordship. He died later in the same year (1606) as his father and there would be dispute over whether to count his brief succession in the numbering of Lordships. The question was most recently (As of 2023^[update]) settled in 1955, stating that he was not to be considered a Lord Forbes and his younger brother would be their father's immediate successor as Arthur Forbes, 9th Lord Forbes.^[5]

Lords Forbes (c. 1444)

 

Castle Forbes, Aberdeenshire - the family seat

• 1st 1445–1448: Alexander Forbes (c. 1380–1448)
• 2nd 1448–c. 1461: James Forbes (d. 1462, son of 1st Lord)
• 3rd c. 1461–by 1488: William Forbes (d. 1483)
• 4th by 1488–c. 1491: Alexander Forbes (d. c. 1491, son of 3rd Lord)
• 5th c. 1491–c. 1496: Arthur Forbes (d. c. 1496, son of 3rd Lord)
• 6th c. 1496–1547: John Forbes (d. 1547, son of 3rd Lord)
• 7th 1547–1593: William Forbes (1513–1593, son of 6th Lord)
• 8th 1593–1606: John Forbes (1542–1606, son of 7th Lord)
• 9th 1606–after 1634 : Arthur Forbes (1581–1641, son of 8th Lord)
• 10th after 1634–1672: Alexander Forbes (1600–1672, son of 9th Lord) (m. Anne, daughter of John Lord Forbes of Pitsligo)
• 11th 1672–1697: William Forbes (d. 1697, son of 10th Lord & Anne)
• 12th 1697–1716: William Forbes (1656–1716, son of William, 11th Lord)
• 13th 1716–1730: William Forbes (d. 1730, son of 12th Lord)
• 14th 1730–1734: Francis Forbes (1721–1734, son of 13th Lord)
• 15th 1734–1761: James Forbes (1689–1761, 2nd son of William, 11th Lord) (m. Mary, daughter of Alexander, third Lord Forbes of Pitsligo)
• 16th 1761–1804: James Forbes (1725–1804, son of James, 15th Lord) (m. Catherine)
• 17th 1804–1843: James Ochoncar Forbes (1765–1843,^[6] son of 16th Lord and Catherine)
• 18th 1843–1868: Walter Forbes (1798–1868, son of 17th Lord)
• 19th 1868–1914: Horace Courtenay Gammell Forbes (1829–1914, elder son of Walter, 18th Lord)^[6]
• 20th 1914–1916: Atholl Monson Forbes (1841–1916, younger son of Walter, 18th Lord)
• 21st 1916–1953: Atholl Laurence Cunyngham (1882–1953, son of 20th Lord)^[6]
• 22nd 1953–2013: Nigel Ivan Forbes (1918–2013, son of 21st Lord)^[6]
• 23rd 2013–present: Malcolm Nigel Forbes (b. 1946, son of 22nd Lord)

The heir apparent is the present holder's grandson, Geordie Malcolm Andrew Forbes (b. 2010), styled Master of Forbes

Family tree

v t e Forbes family tree

John de Forbes Lord Forbes, c. 1444 Alexander Forbes (c. 1380–1448) 1st Lord Forbes c. 1444–1448 James Forbes (d. 1462) 2nd Lord Forbes 1448–c. 1461 William Forbes (d. 1483) 3rd Lord Forbes c. 1461–by 1488 Duncan Forbes Patrick Forbes Alexander Forbes (d. c. 1491) 4th Lord Forbes by 1488–c. 1491 Arthur Forbes (d. c. 1496) 5th Lord Forbes c. 1491–c. 1496 John Forbes (d. 1547) 6th Lord Forbes c. 1496–1547 Forbes, later Stuart-Forbes, of Monymusk Forbes, of Castle Forbes William Forbes (1513–1593) 7th Lord Forbes 1547–1593 John Forbes (1542–1606) First called "Master of Forbes", then 8th Lord Forbes 1593–1606 William Forbes of Corse Castle (d. 1627) Forbes baronets, of Castle Forbes, 1628 William Forbes (1563–1592) John Forbes (1570–1606) "(9th) Lord Forbes" 1606–1606 His brief lordship was disputed and retroactively discounted.^[a]^[7] Arthur Forbes (1581–1641) 9th Lord Forbes 1606–after 1634 John Forbes 8th of Pitsligo (d. 1625) William of Craigievar Arthur Forbes d. 1632 1st Baronet of Castle Forbes Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, 1633 Forbes baronets, of Craigievar Castle, in the County of Aberdeen, 1630 Viscount Granard and Baron Clanehugh, 1675 Earl of Granard, 1684 Alexander Forbes (1600–1672) 10th Lord Forbes after 1634–1672 Anne Alexander Forbes (d. 1636) 1st Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1633–1636 William Forbes, 1st Baronet d. 1648 1st Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1630–1648 Arthur Forbes 1623–1695 1st Earl of Granard, 1st Viscount Granard, 1st Baron Clanehugh, 2nd Baronet of Castle Forbes William Forbes (d. 1697) 11th Lord Forbes after 1672–1697 John Forbes of Moneymusk (d. c. 1713) 3rd Baronet of Monymusk Alexander Forbes (d. 1690) 2nd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1636–1690 Alexander Forbes of Foveran (d. 1697) John Forbes, 2nd Baronet ("Red Sir John") (1636–1703) 2nd Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1648–1703 Arthur Forbes (c. 1656–1734) 2nd Earl of Granard, 2nd Viscount Granard, 2nd Baron Clanehugh, 3rd Baronet of Castle Forbes William Forbes (1656–1716) 12th Lord Forbes 1697–1716 William Forbes of Monymusk 4th Baronet of Monymusk John Forbes (b. 1680) Alexander Forbes (c. 1655–1690) 3rd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1690–1690 Sir Samuel Forbes, 1st Baronet (1653–1717) 1st Baronet of Foveran John Forbes, of Knaperna William Forbes, 3rd Baronet (1660–c. 1730) 3rd Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1703–c. 1730 George Forbes (1685–1765) 3rd Earl of Granard, 3rd Viscount Granard, 3rd Baron Clanehugh, 4th Baronet of Castle Forbes William Forbes (d. 1730) 13th Lord Forbes 1716–1730 James Forbes (1689–1761) 15th Lord Forbes 1734–1761 Mary Forbes John Forbes (d. 1715) Alexander Forbes (1678–1762) 4th Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1691–1748 William Forbes Sir Alexander Forbes, 2nd Baronet (d. before 1755) 2nd Baronet of Foveran Samuel Forbes, of Knaperna Sir Arthur Forbes, 4th Baronet (1709–1773) 4th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray c. 1730–1773 George Forbes 1710–1769 4th Earl of Granard, 4th Viscount Granard, 4th Baron Clanehugh, 5th Baronet of Castle Forbes Lordship Forbes of Pitsligo attainted, 1748 Francis Forbes (1721–1734) 14th Lord Forbes 1730–1734 James Forbes (c. 1725–1804) 16th Lord Forbes 1761–1804 William Forbes (d. 1743) 5th Baronet of Edinburgh 1720–1743 Christian Forbes (1705–1789) Forbes Baronets of Newe in the County of Aberdeen Sir Charles Forbes, 1st Baronet (1774–1849) 1st Baronet of Newe 1823–1849 Sir John Forbes, 3rd Baronet (d. c. 1760) 3rd Baronet of Knaperna George Forbes (1740–1780) 5th Earl of Granard, 5th Viscount Granard, 5th Baron Clanehugh, 6th Baronet of Castle Forbes Baronetcy of Foveran/Knaperna dormant, c. 1760 Baron Granard (UK), 1806 James Ochoncar Forbes (1765–1843) 17th Lord Forbes 1804–1843 William Forbes (1739–1806) 6th Baronet of Edinburgh, and later Pitsligo 1743–1806 William Forbes (1755–1816) 5th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1773–1816 George Forbes (1760–1837) 6th Earl of Granard, 6th Viscount Granard, 6th Baron Clanehugh, 1st Baron Granard, 7th Baronet of Castle Forbes Walter Gammell Forbes (1798–1868) 18th Lord Forbes 1843–1868 Charlotte Elizabeth William Forbes (1773–1828) 7th Baronet of Pitsligo 1806–1828 [m. Williamina, daughter of Sir John Stuart/Belshes/Belshes-Wishart (3rd Baronet (S. 1707) of Fettercairn co. Kincardine] Arthur Forbes, 6th Baronet (1784–1823) 6th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1816–1823 John Forbes, 7th Baronet (1785–1846) 7th Baronet of Craigevar and Fintray 1823–1846 George Forbes (1785–1836) styled Viscount Forbes John Stuart Hepburn Forbes (1804–1866) 8th Baronet of Fettercairn and Pitsligo and later of Invermay and Balmanno 1828–1866 [Inherited Invermay and Balmanno as heir and cousin of Alexander Hepburn-Murray-Belshes (d. 1864)] Charles Hay Forbes (d. 1859) William Forbes-Sempill (1836–1905) 17th Lord Sempill 1884–1905 and 8th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1846–1905 (married Carlone Louisa, daughter of Charles Forbes, 3rd Baronet of Newe) James Ochoncar Forbes (1837–1900) George Arthur Hastings Forbes (1833–1889) 7th Earl of Granard, 7th Viscount Granard, 7th Baron Clanehugh, 2nd Baron Granard, 8th Baronet of Castle Forbes Horace Courtenay Gammell Forbes (1829–1914) 19th Lord Forbes 1868–1914 Atholl Monson Forbes (1841–1916) 20th Lord Forbes 1914–1916 William Forbes (1835–1906) 9th Baronet of Fettercairn, Pitsligo, Invermay, and Balmanno 1866–1906 John Forbes-Sempill (1863–1934) 18th Lord Sempill and 9th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1905–1934 Arthur Lionel Ochoncar Forbes-Sempill (1877–1962) James Ochoncar Forbes (1867–1945) Bernard Arthur William Patrick Hastings Forbes (1874–1948) 8th Earl of Granard, 8th Viscount Granard, 8th Baron Clanehugh, 3rd Baron Granard, 9th Baronet of Castle Forbes Atholl Laurence Cunyngham (1882–1953) 21st Lord Forbes 1916–1953 William Francis Forbes-Sempill (1893–1965) 19th Lord Sempill and 10th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1934–1965 Nigel Ivan Forbes (1918–2013) 22nd Lord Forbes 1953–2013 Ann Forbes-Sempill (1920–1995) 20th Lady Sempill Ewan Forbes (1912–1991) 11th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1965–1991 Patrick Walter Forbes (1914–1979) Arthur Patrick Hastings Forbes (1915–1992) 9th Earl of Granard, 9th Viscount Granard, 9th Baron Clanehugh, 4th Baron Granard, 10th Baronet of Castle Forbes John Forbes (1920–1982) John Alexander Cumnock Forbes (1927–2000) 12th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1991–2000 Malcolm Nigel Forbes (b. 1946) 23rd Lord Forbes 2013–present James Sempill (b. 1949) 21st Lord Sempill Andrew Iain Ochoncar Forbes (1945–2003)^[8] 13th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 2000–2003 Peter Arthur Edward Hastings Forbes (b. 1957) 10th Earl of Granard, 10th Viscount Granard, 10th Baron Clanehugh, 5th Baron Granard, 11th Baronet of Castle Forbes Francis Henry William Sempill (b. 1979) styled Master of Sempill James Patrick Ochoncar Forbes (b. 1986) 14th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 2003–present David Ian Ochoncar Forbes (b. 1993) Heir presumptive to the Baronetage of Craigievar and Fintray Jonathan Peter Hastings Forbes b. 1981 styled Viscount Forbes The numbering dispute vacillated over the years and was most recently (As of 2023^[update]) settled in 2018.

See also

•  Scotland portal

• Clan Forbes
• Earl of Granard
• Lord Forbes of Pitsligo
• Forbes baronets

Notes

References

1. The Scots Peerage
2. Brown, Peter, (publisher), The Peerage of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1834, p. 170.
3. Anderson, William (1867). The Scottish Nation. Vol. iv. Edinburgh. p. 228.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
4. Kidd, Charles, & Williamson, David (editors), Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, New York, St Martin's Press, 1990.
5. "John Forbes - The Lord Who Wasn't". Retrieved 15 November 2023.
6. . Leigh Rayment's Peerage. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
7. "John Forbes - The Lord Who Wasn't". Retrieved 15 November 2023.
8. "Forbes of Corse". Register. The Times. No. 74045. London. 16 March 2023. col 5, p. 55.

Sources

• Kidd, Charles (1903). Debrett's peerage, baronetage, knightage, and companionage. London: Dean & Son. p. 388.
• Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. London: Dean & Son. p. 377.