Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/401

Forbes  Vernon, who had been laid aside, was brought back over his head and sent out, Granard considered himself superseded, and refused to serve again. His name was retained on the flag list, and half-pay was issued for him for some time, but on 31 Dec. 1742 his resignation was finally accepted. The statement of some biographers that he continued in the service, and was senior admiral at his death, arose from confusing Granard—who was better known in the naval service as Lord Forbes—with his son, Admiral of the Fleet the Hon. John Forbes [q. v.] Granard had retired from the army more than twenty years before he left the sister service. He had been in treaty with Lord Dundonald for the command of the 4th troop of horse-guards, for which he was to give 10,000l., but broke off the negotiations at the wish of the Duke of Argyll, who desired to see him rise to the head of the navy. By Argyll's interest Granard was returned to the House of Commons for the Scottish burghs of Ayr, Irvine, &c., in 1741, and took a very active part in the stormy discussions which drove Sir Robert Walpole from office 3 Feb. 1742, in consequence of which he was appointed one of the committee of inquiry into the conduct of the ex-minister. But he subsequently separated from his colleagues in disgust, and retired from public life. He was made a privy councillor of Ireland, and held the governments of Westmeath and Longford. He died in Ireland in 1765. There is some uncertainty as to the day of his death, two different dates being given in ‘Memoirs of the Earls of Granard,’ and other dates, all within the year, being given in other publications (see Notes and Queries, 6th ser. x. 312; also Ann. Reg., Gent. Mag., and Scots Mag. 1765). In person Granard was of middle height and spare figure, with a dark complexion, and strongly marked features. In his habits he was very active and extremely abstemious, eating little and drinking nothing but water, customs to which he attributed his good health. He was a great reader, with a very retentive memory, and a quick, intelligent observer. The family manuscripts contain several treatises by him on subjects connected with political economy, geography, and the naval resources of different countries (Hist. MSS. Comm. 2nd Rep. 212).

Granard (then Lord Forbes) married in 1709 Mary, eldest daughter of Sir William Stewart, first earl of Mountjoy, and widow of Phineas Preston of Ardsallagh, co. Meath, by whom she had had two children (see, Peerage of Ireland, vi. 153). By this lady, who died 4 Oct. 1755, he had three children: George, fourth earl of Granard, who saw a good deal of army service in the Mediterranean in his earlier years, raised the old 76th foot, which was disbanded in 1763, and died a major-general and colonel 29th foot in 1769; John (1714–1796) [q. v.]; and a daughter.

[The best biography of Admiral Lord Granard is in Forbes's Memoirs of the Earls of Granard (London, 1858). The work contains a few misprinted dates. Supplementary details can be found under date in the Home Office Military Entry Books, and in the Admiralty and Foreign Office Papers in the Public Record Office. Mervyn Archdall's Peerage of Ireland, ii. 148–9; Charnock's Biog. Nav. iii. 330, and other biographical notices contain errors. Some of these are referred to in Notes and Queries, 6th ser. x. 312–13. Granard's papers remaining in possession of the family are reported on in Hist. MSS. Comm. 2nd Rep. 212–16, 3rd Rep. 431, wherein are given extracts from Lord Granard's diary at St. Petersburg. Letters from him at Minorca in 1716–17, addressed to G. Bubb, British envoy in Spain, from Egerton MSS. 2171 f. 144, 2174 ff. 338, 343, 2175 ff. 5, 176; and from St. Petersburg in 1733, to Sir Thomas Robinson, British minister at Vienna, Addit. MSS. 23788 f. 42, 23789 f. 36. These letters, which are very imperfect in their orthography, and all bear the queer cramped signature ‘Gfforbes,’ contain nothing of public interest.] 

FORBES, GEORGE, sixth in the peerage of Ireland, and first  in the United Kingdom, (1760–1837), general, was the eldest son of George, fifth earl of Granard, by his first wife, Dorothy, second daughter of Sir Nicholas Borley, bart., of the Isle of Anglesea, and great-grandson of Admiral George, third earl of Granard [q. v.] Born on 14 June 1760, he was educated at Armagh. He married, 10 May 1779, Lady Selina Frances Rawdon, youngest daughter of George Rawdon, first earl of Moira, by his third wife, Lady Elizabeth Hastings, eldest daughter of the ninth Earl of Huntingdon. By this lady, who was sister of the first Marquis of Hastings, Granard had nine children. On succeeding to the title, the year after his marriage, he made a lengthened tour on the continent. He was introduced to Cardinal York at Rome, attended one of Frederick the Great's reviews in Silesia, and resided in France and at Vienna. On his return home he devoted himself to politics, and, following the example of Lord and Lady Moira, adopted liberal opinions, and with his votes and interest steadily supported the policy of Charlemont, Grattan, Curran, and other leaders of the liberal party in Ireland. The Marquis of Buckingham referred to him as the most uncompromising opponent of his administration.