embellished with ninety-five engravings," 1813-15, 4 vols. He died at Aix-la-Chapelle, 1st August, 1819.—W. A. B.
* FORBES, James David, a distinguished cultivator of physical science, youngest son of Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo, baronet, was born on the 20th of April, 1809. He studied arts and law in the university of Edinburgh from 1825 until 1830. Between those years also, while yet under age, he contributed (chiefly anonymously) a number of papers, for the most part on metereology and geology to Sir D. Brewster's Journal of Science. In 1830 he was admitted as an advocate, or member of the Scottish bar. In February, 1833, he was elected professor of natural philosophy in the university of Edinburgh, which office he held until 1860, when he resigned it to become principal of the united college in the university of St. Andrews. In 1831 he became a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, of which body he has for many years been the principal secretary; and in 1832 a fellow of the Royal Society of London. In 1842 he was elected a corresponding member of the Institute of France. He is also a fellow of the Geological Society; member or honorary member of various other scientific societies at home and abroad, and a doctor of civil law of the university of Oxford. His scientific discoveries have been acknowledged by the award of the Rumford and royal medals by the Royal Society of London, and of the Keith medal twice by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The following is a brief summary of the principal researches of Mr. Forbes in various branches of experimental physics. In the science of heat, experimental researches regarding vibrations which take place between metallic masses having different temperatures (Edin. Trans., 1834); also a series of experiments extending over nine years, the results of which establish the complete identity of the laws that regulate the phenomena of radiant heat and of light, especially as regards polarization with all its consequences (ibid. 1836-44). In meteorology, observations and experiments on various phenomena, the most remarkable being those on the diminution of temperature with height in the atmosphere (ibid. 1840); those on the extinction of the sun's rays in passing through the atmosphere (ibid. 1842); those on the determination of heights by the boiling point of water (ibid. 1844, 1857); and those on the temperature of the earth's crust at various depths near Edinburgh (ibid. 1849). See also the Edinburgh astronomical observations from that time to the present; also inquiries concerning terrestrial temperature (Ed. Trans., 1839). On the climate of Edinburgh (ibid. 1860). Two lengthened reports on the progress of meteorology were contributed to the reports of the British Association for 1832 and 1840. In electro-magnetism various experiments, in one of which an electric spark was elicited by the inductive action of a natural magnet (Edin. Trans., 1834). Almost every summer vacation of the university of Edinburgh from 1832 to 1844, and several since that time, have been passed by Mr. Forbes in travelling, with a view to scientific observation. Amongst the results of his travels may be mentioned a paper on the temperature and geological relations of the hot springs of the Pyrenees (Lond. Phil. Trans., 1835); some observations of terrestrial magnetic intensity in different parts of Europe (Ed. Trans., 1840); a paper on the volcanic geology of the Vivarais, and one on the geology of the Eildon hills (ibid. 1853). But the most important and celebrated of those results are a long series of researches on the laws of the motion and action of glaciers, published at various dates from 1841 to the present time, and embodied in a series of letters and detached papers, and also in three large works, entitled respectively, "Travels in the Alps," published in 1843; "Norway and its Glaciers, visited in 1851," published in 1853; and "Occasional Papers on the Theory of Glaciers," published in 1859—the last consisting of previously published papers, collected and arranged in one volume, with a prefatory note on the recent progress of the theory of glaciers. In these works it is established by strict induction from careful and exact observation, that the motion of a glacier is completely analogous to that of a plastic or viscous substance urged downwards by gravity, and impeded by the adhesion and stiffness of its parts, and by the friction of its bed or channel; and the consequences of that principle are deduced, and illustrated by numerous examples from nature. The works on the Alps and on Norway are not confined to the subject of glaciers alone, but treat of the physical, social, and picturesque aspect of the regions visited, in a style which presents a most rare combination of interest with instruction. Prefixed to the Encyclopædia Britannica is a celebrated series of dissertations on the history of science, of which the third and fourth, relating to mathematics and physics, were written by Playfair and Leslie, successively professors of natural philosophy in the university of Edinburgh. An additional dissertation, bringing down the history of those branches of science to the present time, has been written for the eighth edition of that Encyclopædia by Mr. Forbes. The scientific researches of Mr. Forbes are characterized by industry and exactness in observing and judgment in experimenting, caution and sagacity in reasoning from the data of experience, and most careful distinction between hypothesis and fact. In the discharge of his duties as professor, his teaching was always marked by an earnest endeavour to communicate the same characteristics to his students, and guard them against the dangers of superficial and inaccurate study, and of loose and hasty generalization.—R.
FORBES, John, of Corse, a learned Scottish theologian, was born May 2, 1593, at Aberdeen, where his father, Patrick Forbes, was bishop. After finishing his studies at Aberdeen he went to Heidelberg, and afterwards visited Sedan and other continental universities. Having returned to his own country, he was in 1619 admitted to the professorship of divinity in King's college, Aberdeen, a station which he adorned by his great learning, his diligence as a teacher, and his piety and charity as a man. His earliest publication was devoted to promote the cause of christian peace; its title is "Irenicum amatoribus veritatis et pacis in Ecclesia Scoticana;" it was designed especially to assuage the violence of discussion which the five articles of Perth, passed in 1618, had naturally excited in a community much opposed to episcopacy. Another publication of his, with the same intent, involved him in a controversy with Calderwood, without in any way inclining the dominant party to toleration. Though at first treated with some degree of lenity, out of respect for his character and learning, he was ultimately constrained to resign his professorship, and was even deprived of a house which he had purchased adjoining the university, and which he had assigned to the professor of divinity, without reserving for himself a liferent of it. Driven from Scotland he took refuge in Holland, where he resided chiefly at Amsterdam, and occupied himself in the preparation of his "Instructiones Historico-Theologicæ de Doctrina Christiana," one of the few very learned books which Scotland has produced. After a residence of two years in Holland he returned to his native country, and spent the rest of his life in retirement on his estate of Corse. He died April 29, 1648. His works have been collected in two vols. folio, Amsterdam, 1703.—W. L. A.
FORBES, Sir John, a physician, born at Cuttlebrae in Banffshire in 1787; died 13th November, 1861. He acquired his education at Fordyce academy, and studied successively at the grammar-school and Marischal college, Aberdeen, and in the medical schools at Edinburgh. He graduated M.D., Edinburgh, in 1817. In 1814-15 he was flag-surgeon to the commander-in-chief in the West Indies, and was present at several naval engagements, for which he received a war medal. After leaving the navy in 1815, he practised his profession, first at Penzance, and next at Chichester, where he was physician to the infirmary in 1833, and from which place he removed to London. In 1821 he introduced to English practitioners the discovery of auscultation by translating Lænnec's treatise on the Use of the Stethoscope, which he followed by an original work of his own in 1824. He was early elected a fellow of the Royal Society. The university of Oxford conferred on him the degree of doctor of laws. He was a member of the committee of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. He conducted the British and Foreign Medical Review for twelve years, from 1836 to 1848, and edited the Cyclopædia of Practical Medicine from 1833 to 1835. In 1830 he was appointed physician-in-ordinary to the late duke of Cambridge, to Prince Albert in 1840, and to the royal household the same year. On the 8th August, 1853, the queen conferred on him the honour of knighthood. He was a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, consulting-physician to the consumption hospital, London, and an honorary member of the principal medical societies of Europe and America. His works are—"Original Cases, with dissections and observations, illustrating the use of the Stethoscope and Percussion in the Diagnosis of Diseases of the Chest," 1824; "Observations on the Climate of Penzance," 1828; "Manual of Select Bibliography," 1835; "Illustrations of Modern Mesmerism," 1846;
