Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/441

 (1755); sermon on Eccles. xi. 1 (1757); funeral sermon for Lawrence (1760); sermon on Prov. viii. 6, 7 (1775); charge at ordination of Lindsay (1783).

 FORDYCE, WILLIAM (1724–1792), physician, son of Provost Fordyce of Aberdeen, and brother of [q. v.], was born at Aberdeen in 1724, and educated at Marischal College, also serving a medical pupilage with a local practitioner and with his brother John at Uppingham in 1743. It has been inferred that he qualified at Edinburgh, from the fact that he was admitted a member of the Royal Medical Society there, 22 Dec. 1744; but it is more probable that he left Edinburgh without qualifying, volunteering for the army during the war with France which ended in 1748, and obtaining an appointment as surgeon to the guards, with whom he served in three campaigns, enduring many hardships. Probably after the peace he travelled and studied in France. He was at Turin in 1750 (Fragmenta Chirurgica, p. 21), but returned to London in the same year. While retaining for many years his connection with the army, he entered upon general practice in London, and this and the growing note of his brothers introduced him to the best circles. In 1770 he was created M.D. at Cambridge by royal mandate, and was admitted licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians on 10 April 1786. He was knighted by George III in 1787. It is stated (Gent. Mag. lxii. 1218) that he was sent for to greater distances and received greater sums than almost any physician of his time, and accumulated much money. He aided his brother [q. v.] to his dazzling rise of fortune, and suffered great loss when he failed, generously taking upon himself the burden of his brother James's loss also. His generosity and hospitality were very great. His medical skill and knowledge were considerable for his time, as testified by his works, some of which went through numerous editions. The Society of Arts voted him a gold medal for his work on rhubarb. He died at Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, after a long illness, on 4 Dec. 1792, aged 68. At the time of his death he was lord rector of Marischal College, Aberdeen, to which he left 1,000l.

Fordyce's works (all published in London) are:
 * 1) 'A Review of the Venereal Disease and its Remedies,' 1767, fifth edition 1785; German translation, Altenburg, 1769.
 * 2) 'A New Inquiry into the Causes, Symptoms, and Cure of Putrid and Inflammatory Fevers, with an Appendix on the Hectic Fever and on the Ulcerated Sore Throat,' 1773, fourth edition 1777; German translation, Leipzig, 1774.
 * 3) 'The Great Importance and Proper Method of Cultivating and Curing Rhubarb in Britain for Medical Uses,' 1784.
 * 4) 'Fragmenta Chirurgica et Medica,' 1784.
 * 5) 'Letter to Sir John Sinclair on the Virtues of Muriatic Acid in curing Putrid Diseases,' 1790.

 FOREST, JOHN (1474?–1538), martyr, entered the convent of Franciscans of the Observance at Greenwich when about seventeen years of age. Some nine years later he was sent by the convent to study theology in the Franciscan house without Watergate at Oxford. In due time he supplicated the regents for admission to oppose in divinity for the degree of bachelor, but there is no evidence of his having taken any degree, though Pits calls him doctor of theology. After returning to Greenwich he was appointed minister of the English province, but the date is doubtful. In January 1525 Cardinal Wolsey attempted to hold a visitation of the Observants by virtue of his legatine power. This was strongly opposed by most of the friars, but Forest supported his authority, and went so far as to curse nineteen of his recalcitrant brethren at Paul's Cross. This, according to Francis a S. Clara, proves him to have been provincial minister. On the other hand, certain letters from the convent at Greenwich seem to show that he was elected minister to succeed Friar William Peto, who had displeased Henry VIII by his expression of opinion about the divorce. A list of names in Cromwell's hand apparently implies that Forest might be reckoned on as an opponent of Peto on the king's behalf, and he was probably appointed for that reason. The king knew him personally from the fact of his being confessor to the queen (Catherine of Arragon), and at a later time he said that Forest had promised to preach in his support. But after his appointment as minister he became an ardent advocate of the queen's cause, preaching himself on her behalf and preventing other members of his convent from preaching on the other side. 