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

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.

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. 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.

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, son of 2nd Lord)
  • 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, 12th 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, 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)
  • 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)
  • 22nd 1953–2013: Nigel Ivan Forbes (1918–2013, son of 21st Lord)
  • 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

vteForbes 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 1488Duncan ForbesPatrick Forbes Alexander Forbes d.c.1491 4th Lord Forbes by 1488–c.1491Arthur Forbes d.c.1496 5th Lord Forbes c.1491–c.1496John Forbes d.1547 6th Lord Forbes c.1496–1547Forbes, later Stuart-Forbes, of MonymuskForbes, 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 1593–1606William Forbes of Corse Castle d.1627 Forbes baronets, of Castle Forbes, 1628 William Forbes 1563–1592John Forbes 1570–1606 "(9th) Lord Forbes" 1606–1606 His brief lordship was disputed and retroactively discounted.Arthur Forbes 1581–1641 9th Lord Forbes 1606–after 1634John Forbes 8th of Pitsligo d.1625William of CraigievarArthur Forbes d.1632 1st Baronet of Castle Forbes Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, 1633Forbes baronets, of Craigievar Castle, in the County of Aberdeen, 1630Viscount Granard and Baron Clanehugh, 1675 Earl of Granard, 1684 Alexander Forbes 1600–1672 10th Lord Forbes after 1634–1672AnneAlexander Forbes d.1636 1st Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1633–1636William Forbes, 1st Baronet d.1648 1st Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1630–1648Arthur Forbes 1623–1695 1st Earl of Granard, etc., 2nd Baronet of Castle Forbes William Forbes d.1697 11th Lord Forbes after 1672–1697John Forbes of Moneymusk d.c.1713 3rd Baronet of MonymuskAlexander Forbes d.1690 2nd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1636–1690Alexander Forbes of Foveran d.1697John Forbes, 2nd Baronet ("Red Sir John") 1636–1703 2nd Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1648–1703Arthur Forbes c.1656–1734 2nd Earl of Granard, etc., 3rd Baronet of Castle Forbes William Forbes 1656–1716 12th Lord Forbes 1697–1716William Forbes of Monymusk 4th Baronet of MonymuskJohn Forbes b.1680Alexander Forbes c.1655–1690 3rd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1690–1690Samuel Forbes, 1st Baronet 1653–1717 1st Baronet of FoveranJohn Forbes, of KnapernaWilliam Forbes, 3rd Baronet 1660–c.1730 3rd Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1703–c.1730George Forbes 1685–1765 3rd Earl of Granard, etc., 4th Baronet of Castle Forbes William Forbes d.1730 13th Lord Forbes 1716–1730James Forbes 1689–1761 15th Lord Forbes 1734–1761Mary ForbesJohn Forbes d.1715Alexander Forbes 1678–1762 4th Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1691–1748William ForbesAlexander Forbes, 2nd Baronet d.before 1755 2nd Baronet of FoveranSamuel Forbes, of KnapernaArthur Forbes 1709–1773 4th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray c.1730–1773George Forbes 1710–1769 4th Earl of Granard, etc., 5th Baronet of Castle Forbes Lordship Forbes of Pitsligo attainted, 1748 Francis Forbes 1721–1734 14th Lord Forbes 1730–1734James Forbes c.1725–1804 16th Lord Forbes 1761–1804William Forbes d.1743 5th Baronet of Monymusk 1715–1743Christian Forbes 1705–1789Forbes Baronets of Newe in the County of AberdeenCharles Forbes 1774–1849 1st Baronet of Newe 1823–1849John Forbes d.c.1760 3rd Baronet of KnapernaGeorge Forbes 1740–1780 5th Earl of Granard, etc., 6th Baronet of Castle Forbes Baronetcy of Foveran/Knaperna dormant, c.1760 Baron Granard (UK), 1806 James Ochoncar Forbes 1765–1843 17th Lord Forbes 1804–1843William Forbes 1739–1806 6th Baronet of Monymusk, and later Pitsligo 1743–1806William Forbes 1755–1816 5th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1773–1816George Forbes 1760–1837 6th Earl of Granard, etc., 1st Baron Granard, 7th Baronet of Castle Forbes Walter Gammell Forbes 1798–1868 18th Lord Forbes 1843–1868Charlotte ElizabethWilliam Forbes 1773–1828 7th Baronet of Monymusk 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 1816–1823John Forbes, 7th Baronet 1785–1846 7th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1823–1846George Forbes 1785–1836 styled Viscount Forbes John Stuart Hepburn Forbes 1804–1866 8th Baronet of Monymusk, 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 1806–1859William Forbes-Sempill 1836–1905 17th Lord Sempill 1884–1905 8th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1846–1905 (married Carlone Louisa, daughter of Charles Forbes, 3rd Baronet of Newe)James Ochoncar Forbes 1837–1900George Arthur Hastings Forbes 1833–1889 7th Earl of Granard, etc., 2nd Baron Granard, 8th Baronet of Castle Forbes Horace Courtenay Gammell Forbes 1829–1914 19th Lord Forbes 1868–1914Atholl Monson Forbes 1841–1916 20th Lord Forbes 1914–1916William Forbes 1835–1906 9th Baronet of Monymusk, Invermay, and Balmanno 1866–1906John Forbes-Sempill 1863–1934 18th Lord Sempill, 9th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1905–1934Arthur Lionel Ochoncar Forbes-Sempill 1877–1962James Ochoncar Forbes 1867–1945Bernard Arthur William Patrick Hastings Forbes 1874–1948 8th Earl of Granard, etc., 3rd Baron Granard, 9th Baronet of Castle Forbes Atholl Laurence Cunyngham 1882–1953 21st Lord Forbes 1916–1953Charles Hay Hepburn Stuart-Forbes of Pitsligo 1871–1921 10th Baronet of Monymusk, Invermay, and Balmanno 1906–1921William Francis Forbes-Sempill 1893–1965 19th Lord Sempill, 10th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1934–1965 Nigel Ivan Forbes 1918–2013 22nd Lord Forbes 1953–2013Ann Forbes-Sempill 1920–1995 20th Lady SempillEwan Forbes 1912–1991 11th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1965–1991John Alexander Cumnock Forbes 1927–2000 12th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1991–2000Patrick Walter Forbes 1914–1979Arthur Patrick Hastings Forbes 1915–1992 9th Earl of Granard, etc., 4th Baron Granard, 10th Baronet of Castle ForbesJohn Forbes 1920–1982 Malcolm Nigel Forbes b.1946 23rd Lord Forbes since 2013James Sempill b.1949 21st Lord SempillAndrew Iain Ochoncar Forbes 1945–2003 13th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 2000–2003Peter Arthur Edward Hastings Forbes b.1957 10th Earl of Granard, etc., 5th Baron Granard, 11th Baronet of Castle Forbes Francis Henry William Sempill b.1979 styled Master of SempillJames Patrick Ochoncar Forbes b.1986 14th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray since 2003David Ian Ochoncar Forbes b.1993 Heir presumptive to the Baronetage of Craigievar and FintrayJonathan Peter Hastings Forbes b.1981 styled Viscount Forbes
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 1488Duncan ForbesPatrick Forbes
Alexander Forbes d.c.1491 4th Lord Forbes by 1488–c.1491Arthur Forbes d.c.1496 5th Lord Forbes c.1491–c.1496John Forbes d.1547 6th Lord Forbes c.1496–1547Forbes, later Stuart-Forbes, of MonymuskForbes, 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 1593–1606William Forbes of Corse Castle d.1627
Forbes baronets, of Castle Forbes, 1628
William Forbes 1563–1592John Forbes 1570–1606 "(9th) Lord Forbes" 1606–1606 His brief lordship was disputed and retroactively discounted.Arthur Forbes 1581–1641 9th Lord Forbes 1606–after 1634John Forbes 8th of Pitsligo d.1625William of CraigievarArthur Forbes d.1632 1st Baronet of Castle Forbes
Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, 1633Forbes baronets, of Craigievar Castle, in the County of Aberdeen, 1630Viscount Granard and Baron Clanehugh, 1675 Earl of Granard, 1684
Alexander Forbes 1600–1672 10th Lord Forbes after 1634–1672AnneAlexander Forbes d.1636 1st Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1633–1636William Forbes, 1st Baronet d.1648 1st Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1630–1648Arthur Forbes 1623–1695 1st Earl of Granard, etc., 2nd Baronet of Castle Forbes
William Forbes d.1697 11th Lord Forbes after 1672–1697John Forbes of Moneymusk d.c.1713 3rd Baronet of MonymuskAlexander Forbes d.1690 2nd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1636–1690Alexander Forbes of Foveran d.1697John Forbes, 2nd Baronet ("Red Sir John") 1636–1703 2nd Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1648–1703Arthur Forbes c.1656–1734 2nd Earl of Granard, etc., 3rd Baronet of Castle Forbes
William Forbes 1656–1716 12th Lord Forbes 1697–1716William Forbes of Monymusk 4th Baronet of MonymuskJohn Forbes b.1680Alexander Forbes c.1655–1690 3rd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1690–1690Samuel Forbes, 1st Baronet 1653–1717 1st Baronet of FoveranJohn Forbes, of KnapernaWilliam Forbes, 3rd Baronet 1660–c.1730 3rd Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1703–c.1730George Forbes 1685–1765 3rd Earl of Granard, etc., 4th Baronet of Castle Forbes
William Forbes d.1730 13th Lord Forbes 1716–1730James Forbes 1689–1761 15th Lord Forbes 1734–1761Mary ForbesJohn Forbes d.1715Alexander Forbes 1678–1762 4th Lord Forbes of Pitsligo 1691–1748William ForbesAlexander Forbes, 2nd Baronet d.before 1755 2nd Baronet of FoveranSamuel Forbes, of KnapernaArthur Forbes 1709–1773 4th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray c.1730–1773George Forbes 1710–1769 4th Earl of Granard, etc., 5th Baronet of Castle Forbes
Lordship Forbes of Pitsligo attainted, 1748
Francis Forbes 1721–1734 14th Lord Forbes 1730–1734James Forbes c.1725–1804 16th Lord Forbes 1761–1804William Forbes d.1743 5th Baronet of Monymusk 1715–1743Christian Forbes 1705–1789Forbes Baronets of Newe in the County of AberdeenCharles Forbes 1774–1849 1st Baronet of Newe 1823–1849John Forbes d.c.1760 3rd Baronet of KnapernaGeorge Forbes 1740–1780 5th Earl of Granard, etc., 6th Baronet of Castle Forbes
Baronetcy of Foveran/Knaperna dormant, c.1760
Baron Granard (UK), 1806
James Ochoncar Forbes 1765–1843 17th Lord Forbes 1804–1843William Forbes 1739–1806 6th Baronet of Monymusk, and later Pitsligo 1743–1806William Forbes 1755–1816 5th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1773–1816George Forbes 1760–1837 6th Earl of Granard, etc., 1st Baron Granard, 7th Baronet of Castle Forbes
Walter Gammell Forbes 1798–1868 18th Lord Forbes 1843–1868Charlotte ElizabethWilliam Forbes 1773–1828 7th Baronet of Monymusk 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 1816–1823John Forbes, 7th Baronet 1785–1846 7th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1823–1846George Forbes 1785–1836 styled Viscount Forbes
John Stuart Hepburn Forbes 1804–1866 8th Baronet of Monymusk, 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 1806–1859William Forbes-Sempill 1836–1905 17th Lord Sempill 1884–1905 8th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1846–1905 (married Carlone Louisa, daughter of Charles Forbes, 3rd Baronet of Newe)James Ochoncar Forbes 1837–1900George Arthur Hastings Forbes 1833–1889 7th Earl of Granard, etc., 2nd Baron Granard, 8th Baronet of Castle Forbes
Horace Courtenay Gammell Forbes 1829–1914 19th Lord Forbes 1868–1914Atholl Monson Forbes 1841–1916 20th Lord Forbes 1914–1916William Forbes 1835–1906 9th Baronet of Monymusk, Invermay, and Balmanno 1866–1906John Forbes-Sempill 1863–1934 18th Lord Sempill, 9th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1905–1934Arthur Lionel Ochoncar Forbes-Sempill 1877–1962James Ochoncar Forbes 1867–1945Bernard Arthur William Patrick Hastings Forbes 1874–1948 8th Earl of Granard, etc., 3rd Baron Granard, 9th Baronet of Castle Forbes
Atholl Laurence Cunyngham 1882–1953 21st Lord Forbes 1916–1953Charles Hay Hepburn Stuart-Forbes of Pitsligo 1871–1921 10th Baronet of Monymusk, Invermay, and Balmanno 1906–1921William Francis Forbes-Sempill 1893–1965 19th Lord Sempill, 10th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1934–1965
Nigel Ivan Forbes 1918–2013 22nd Lord Forbes 1953–2013Ann Forbes-Sempill 1920–1995 20th Lady SempillEwan Forbes 1912–1991 11th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1965–1991John Alexander Cumnock Forbes 1927–2000 12th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 1991–2000Patrick Walter Forbes 1914–1979Arthur Patrick Hastings Forbes 1915–1992 9th Earl of Granard, etc., 4th Baron Granard, 10th Baronet of Castle ForbesJohn Forbes 1920–1982
Malcolm Nigel Forbes b.1946 23rd Lord Forbes since 2013James Sempill b.1949 21st Lord SempillAndrew Iain Ochoncar Forbes 1945–2003 13th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray 2000–2003Peter Arthur Edward Hastings Forbes b.1957 10th Earl of Granard, etc., 5th Baron Granard, 11th Baronet of Castle Forbes
Francis Henry William Sempill b.1979 styled Master of SempillJames Patrick Ochoncar Forbes b.1986 14th Baronet of Craigievar and Fintray since 2003David Ian Ochoncar Forbes b.1993 Heir presumptive to the Baronetage of Craigievar and FintrayJonathan Peter Hastings Forbes b.1981 styled Viscount Forbes

See also

Notes

Sources