Alexander Forbes, 4th Lord Forbes of Pitsligo
Encyclopedia
Alexander Forbes, 4th Lord Forbes of Pitsligo (1678–1762) was a Scottish Jacobite
nobleman and refugee, also known as a writer.
In early manhood he travelled in France, made the acquaintance of Fénelon, and was introduced by him to Madame Guyon and other quietists. Their influence led him to devote attention to the mystical writers. He was an adherent of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Scotland, and a supporter of the exiled Stuart family. He was strongly opposed to the Act of Union
, and on the oath of abjuration
being extended to Scotland, ceased to attend Parliament.
Having taken part in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 he was compelled, after the retreat of Mar, to take refuge on the continent. In 1720 he returned to Scotland, taking up residence mainly at Pitsligo, where he continued a correspondence with the quietists, and engaged in a kind of transcendental devotion. On the outbreak of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, though sixty-seven years of age and asthmatic, he took up arms on behalf of the Stuarts. He raised a regiment of cavalry, numbering about a hundred, and composed chiefly of Aberdeenshire
gentlemen and their tenants. He arrived at Edinburgh
on 8 October 1745, a few days after the Jacobite victory at the battle of Prestonpans
. After the defeat at the battle of Culloden
he remained in hiding near Pitsligo. His main place of concealment was a cave constructed in the arch of a bridge at a remote spot on the moors, and disguised himself as a beggar.
His estates were seized in 1748, but in the act of attainder he was named Lord Pitsligo, a misnomer for Lord Forbes of Pitsligo. On this account he tried to obtain a reversal of the attainder, but though the court of session gave judgment in his favour 10 November 1749, this decision was reversed on appeal to the House of Lords 1 February 1750. After this the search for him relaxed, and he stayed for the most part with his son at Auchiries, under the name of Mr. Brown. In March 1756 a party was sent to search for him, but he hid behind a wainscot
, concealed by a bed in which a lady slept. He died on 21 December 1762.
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
nobleman and refugee, also known as a writer.
Life
He was the only son of Alexander Forbes, 3rd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, by Lady Sophia Erskine, third daughter of John, ninth earl of Mar, and was born 22 May 1678. He succeeded to the estates and title on the death of his father in 1691.In early manhood he travelled in France, made the acquaintance of Fénelon, and was introduced by him to Madame Guyon and other quietists. Their influence led him to devote attention to the mystical writers. He was an adherent of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Scotland, and a supporter of the exiled Stuart family. He was strongly opposed to the Act of Union
Acts of Union 1707
The Acts of Union were two Parliamentary Acts - the Union with Scotland Act passed in 1706 by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland - which put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706,...
, and on the oath of abjuration
Oath of Abjuration
The Act of Abjuration or Plakkaat van Verlatinghe, signed on 26 July 1581, was the formal declaration of independence of the Dutch Low Countries from the Spanish king, Philip II...
being extended to Scotland, ceased to attend Parliament.
Having taken part in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 he was compelled, after the retreat of Mar, to take refuge on the continent. In 1720 he returned to Scotland, taking up residence mainly at Pitsligo, where he continued a correspondence with the quietists, and engaged in a kind of transcendental devotion. On the outbreak of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, though sixty-seven years of age and asthmatic, he took up arms on behalf of the Stuarts. He raised a regiment of cavalry, numbering about a hundred, and composed chiefly of Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
gentlemen and their tenants. He arrived at Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on 8 October 1745, a few days after the Jacobite victory at the battle of Prestonpans
Battle of Prestonpans
The Battle of Prestonpans was the first significant conflict in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The battle took place at 4 am on 21 September 1745. The Jacobite army loyal to James Francis Edward Stuart and led by his son Charles Edward Stuart defeated the government army loyal to the Hanoverian...
. After the defeat at the battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
he remained in hiding near Pitsligo. His main place of concealment was a cave constructed in the arch of a bridge at a remote spot on the moors, and disguised himself as a beggar.
His estates were seized in 1748, but in the act of attainder he was named Lord Pitsligo, a misnomer for Lord Forbes of Pitsligo. On this account he tried to obtain a reversal of the attainder, but though the court of session gave judgment in his favour 10 November 1749, this decision was reversed on appeal to the House of Lords 1 February 1750. After this the search for him relaxed, and he stayed for the most part with his son at Auchiries, under the name of Mr. Brown. In March 1756 a party was sent to search for him, but he hid behind a wainscot
Wainscot
Wainscot is a term used in fantasy fiction to describe societies that are concealed and secretly working in the real world. It was first coined by The Encyclopedia of Fantasy in 1997....
, concealed by a bed in which a lady slept. He died on 21 December 1762.