Page:A Compendium of Irish Biography.djvu/236

FOR Forbes, Sir George, 6th Earl of Granard, great-grandson of preceding, was born 14th June 1768, and succeeded his father in April 1780. He was educated at Armagh, and entered the army at an early age. He commanded the Longford Militia at Castlebar in 1798, during the French invasion of Connaught, and took part in the battle of Ballinamuck. He was a steadfast adherent of the Irish liberal party, and as he had supported Charlemont, Grattan, and Curran in early life, so in 1799-1800 he stood firm with his brothers-in-law. Lords Moira, Kingston, and Mountcashel, against the Union, and was one of those that signed the Peers' protest against the measure. For some years afterwards he took little part in politics, and devoted himself to his estates; but in 1806 he accepted the post of Clerk of the Crown and Hanaper, and was created a peer of Great Britain. He supported Catholic Emancipation and Reform, and declined the Ribbon of St. Patrick. The latter part of his life was spent principally in France. He died in Paris in 1837, aged 69, and was buried with his ancestors at Newtownforbes. The present Earl (1877) is his grandson. 153

Forde, Samuel, an artist, fellow-student of Daniel Maclise, was born at Cork, 5th April 1805. Most of his short life was spent in his native city, and there he died of consumption, 29th July 1828, aged about 23. He was of a refined and contemplative nature. We are told in somewhat extravagant language that "there exists in the generality of Forde's works that dignified pathos, that saddening grace, that drowsy tenderness, inducing 'a most sweet pain,' which we perceive or feel on surveying the finest Greek statues." 116

Forgail, Dalian, or the "Blind," a famous bard, a native of Connaught, who flourished in the 6th century. Harris's Ware says he was styled "the arch-master or supreme professor of the antiquities of Ireland… He wrote in Irish several works, which (as Colgan says) were couched in so ancient an idiom, that in latter ages, few, though tolerably skilled in the language and antiquities of Ireland, could well understand." He was the author of an elegy on St. Columcille. According to Eugene O'Curry he took a prominent part in the convocation of bards at Dromceat in 574, and died and was buried on Iniskeel, in Gweebarra Bay, Donegal, about 594. Numerous references to him will be found in O'Curry's works. 261 339

Foster, John, Baron Oriel, last Speaker of the Irish Parliament, was born in Ireland, 28th September 1 740. He was educated in Ireland, and called to the Bar, but early devoted himself to political life. Entering Parliament for Dunleer in 1 768, he was appointed Chancellor of the Ex- chequer in 1785, and in 1786 was chosen Speaker of the Commons. Liberal on many matters, he was a strong opponent of the Catholics. In 1792 he opposed the peti- tion in favour of a relaxation of the Penal Laws, declaring his opinion that "on the provisions for securing a Protestant Parlia- ment depended the Protestant ascendency, and with it the continuance of the many blessings they enjoyed." Bitterly hostile to the measure of Union, he did all in his power as Speaker to thwart it, and was presented with addresses of thanks by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Council of Dublin. When the House was in com- mittee on the Bill he said: "I declare from my soul that if England were to give us all her revenues, I could not barter for them the free constitution of my country." It was supposed that as Speaker he might decline to put the final question from the chair. Banington thus describes the scene at the last vote on the Union : "The Speaker (Foster) rose slowly from that chair which had been the proud source of his honours and of his high character ; for a moment he resumed his seat, but the strength of his mind sustained him in his duty, though his struggle was apparent. With that dignity which never failed to signalize his official actions, he held up the Bill for a moment in silence ; he looked steadily around him on the last agony of the expiring Parliament. He at length repeated in an emphatic tone: ' As many as are of opinion that this Bill do pass, say aye.' The affirmative was languid but in- disputable. Another momentary pause ensued — again his lips seemed to decline their office. At length with an eye avert- ed from the object which he held, he pro- claimed, with a subdued voice, ' The ayes have it.' The fatal sentence was now pro- nounced. For an instant he stood statue- like. Then indignantly, and with disgust, flung the Bill upon the table, and sunk into his chair with an exhausted spirit." He declined to surrender the mace of the House of Commons, declaring that "until the body that intrusted it to his keeping demanded it, he would preserve it for them," and it is now held by his descendants, the Massareene family. After the Union he entered the Imperial Parliament for Louth, and accepted the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer for Ireland. In July 182 1 he was created Baron Oriel. He died at his seat at Collon, in Louth, 23rd August 1828, aged 87. Although not eloquent, 212