Patrick Forbes (minister)

Patrick Forbes (1776–1847) was a Scottish minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for the period 1829 to 1830. He was Professor of Humanities and Chemistry at the University of Aberdeen.

Old Machar Church
The grave of Rev Patrick Forbes, St Machar's Cathedral

Life

He was born in Aberdeen on 17 June 1776 the son of Rev Francis Forbes of Camphill, and his first wife, Isabella Copland. He was elder half-brother to Sir Francis William Forbes, Chief Justice of Newfoundland. He studied at Marischal College in Aberdeen graduating MA in 1793. In 1793/4 he was schoolmaster of Grange. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Strathbogie in 1797.[1]

He was minister of Boharm from 1800 to 1816[2] but moved to Old Machar in Aberdeen where he remained for most of his adult life, and from 1816 he was also professor of both Humanity and Chemistry at King's College, Aberdeen, replacing Prof Ogilvie.[3]

In 1828 he succeeded Stevenson McGill as Moderator of the General Assembly, the highest position within the Church of Scotland.

He died in Aberdeen on 13 October 1847 and is buried in the churchyard of St Machar's Cathedral.

Family

He was married twice. In 1800 he married Helen Copland, thought to be a cousin, she died in 1816 and in 1821 he married Mary Glennie (1800-1879). He had two children by his first marriage and a further eleven by the second.

At least two of his sons became ministers: John Forbes (1802-1899) in Aberdeen, and James Beattie Forbes (1838-1884) minister of Leslie in Fife. John served as Professor of Oriental Languages at Aberdeen University, wrote Predestination and Freewill, and the Westminster Confession of Faith and is buried next to his father.[4]

  • The interior of Old Machar Church in Aberdeen
    The interior of Old Machar Church in Aberdeen

References
  1. Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae; by Hew Scott
  2. Scott, Hew (23 February 1926). "Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation, Vol VI, page 338". Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd – via Internet Archive.
  3. Herald, Aberdeen (February 1848). "REV. PATRICK FORBES, D.D.". The Gentleman's Magazine. p. 212. ProQuest 8419546.
  4. Grave of Rev Prof John Forbes, St Machar's Cathedral
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