Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/159

 155 HoN. JOHN FORBES, Was the second son of the above, and an individual who, independent of his intrepidity and skill, was pos sessed of a patriotism so splendid, that the historian might search in vain the records of biography for his equal. He received the first part of his naval education under his illustrious countryman, Sir John Norris, with whom he served and acquired great reputation in the subordinate ranks. On March 7th, 1737, he was made post-captain, and appointed to the Poole; in this ship he remained until the 24th of October, 1738, when he was removed into the Port Mahon, a frigate of twenty guns, employed on the Irish station. On the 10th of August, 1739, he was pro moted to the Severn, a fourth rate of fifty guns, at that time principally employed as a cruiser in the Channel; a service, in which Mr. Forbes had little success, the most consequential being the capture of a Spanish privateer, mounting fourteen guns, which had done much mischief to commerce. On the 9th of July in the following year, he was removed into the Tyger, a ship of the same rate and force as the former. In 1741, he commanded the Guernsey, which, as well as the two preceding, was a ship of fifty guns, and was ordered to the Mediterranean, with some other ships, as a reinforcement to Mr. Had dock. Here he continued to serve many years, and was deservedly held in the highest esteem, both by the admi ral just mentioned, and Mr. Mathews, who succeeded him. After the arrival of Mr. Mathews in the Mediterranean, Captain Forbes was promoted to the Norfolk, of eighty guns, and stationed by the admiral as one of his seconds in the encounter with the French and Spanish fleets off Toulon. He behaved with the most distinguished gal lantry, having compelled the Spanish admiral's second, Don Augustine Eturiago, in the Constant, to break the line, and bear away with a l l the sail h e was able t o set. All the letters written from o n board the fleet immediately.