Admiral John Forbes

Admiral JOHN FORBES (1714 – 1796) was mentor to John Locker, Horatio Nelson’s “Sea Daddy.”  He refused to sign the Death Warrant of Vice-Admiral Byng.

Born in Minorca he was the son of the third Earl of Granard.  He served on the Burford under his uncle Hon.  Charles Stewart.  In 1729 Stewart promoted Forbes to Lieutenant.  He was Captain of the Poole, later commanding the Port Mahon, the Severn, the Tiger and the Guernsey.  Commanding the Norfolk in 1742 he took part in the battle off Toulon in 1744, and gave evidence in the Parliamentary enquiry.  As Rear Admiral of the Blue in 1747 he was second in command to John Byng.  In 1748 he rose to Rear Admiral of the White.  He became Vice-Admiral of the Blue 1755 and was elected to the Irish Parliament.  Under William Pitt he became a member of the Admiralty Board.  Forbes refused to sign the Death Warrant of Vice-Admiral Byng as he was convinced it was illegal.  Many Europeans said that “From time to time the English hang an Admiral to encourage the rest”.

In 1758 he married Lady Mary Capel and became Admiral of the Blue, Admiral of the White 1770, and Admiral of the Fleet 1781.  He bought Malling Place in 1779, where he lived until his death in 1796. He was highly respected.

Forbes passed his vast knowledge of naval matters to his friend and colleague William Locker, Horatio Nelson’s acknowledged mentor and so called “Sea Daddy”.

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