Patrick Forbes (minister)

The Very Rev Prof Patrick Forbes DD (1776–1847) was an early 19th century Scottish minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for the period 1829 to 1830.[1] He was Professor of Humanities and Chemistry at the University of Aberdeen and known colloquially as "Prosody".

Old Machar Church

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.[2]

He was minister of Boharm from 1800 to 1816[3] but moved to Old Machar in Aberdeen where he remained for most of his adult life, and from 1816 he was also a professor at Aberdeen University, replacing Prof Ogilvie.[4]

In 1828 he succeeded the Very Rev 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.[5] The grave lies within the eastern enclosure attached to the church.

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.[5]

At least two of his sons became ministers: Rev Prof John Forbes DD LLD (1802-1899) in Aberdeen, and Rev James Beattie Forbes (1838-1884) minister of Leslie in Fife. John served as Professor of Oriental Languages at Aberdeen University and is buried next to his father.[6]

  • The interior of Old Machar Church in Aberdeen
  • The grave of Rev Patrick Forbes, St Machar's Cathedral

References
  1. "Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland genealogy project". geni_family_tree.
  2. "Prof. Revd. Patrick Forbes, Professor of Humanities". geni_family_tree.
  3. Scott, Hew (February 23, 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.
  4. "REV. PATRICK FORBES, D.D. - ProQuest". search.proquest.com.
  5. "Rev Patrick Forbes (1776-1847) - Find A Grave-gedenkplek".
  6. Grave of Rev Prof John Forbes, St Machar's Cathedral
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