Arthur Forbes, 2nd Earl of Granard


Arthur Forbes, 2nd Earl of Granard, was an Irish soldier and peer.

Early life

Forbes was born as the eldest son of Arthur Forbes of Castle Forbes in Aberdeenshire and the former Catharine Stewart. His mother was the eldest daughter of Sir Robert Newcomen, 4th Baronet, of Kenagh, and the former Anne Boleyn. His younger sister, Lady Catharine Forbes, was married to Arthur Chichester, 3rd Earl of Donegall, as his second wife.
His paternal grandfather was Arthur Forbes, who was created a Baronet of Castle Forbes in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 29 September 1628. In 1632, Forbes' father succeeded as the 2nd Baronet. In November 1675, his father was created Baron Clanehugh and Viscount of Granard in his own right, followed by the earldom of Granard on 30 December 1684.

Career

Forbes was a Col. of the 18th Regiment of Foot from 1686 to 1688, when he was removed by King William III and was thrice imprisoned in the Tower of London for his "suspected co-operation with the Stuarts". He served on the Continent under Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of Turenne, and took part in the Siege of Buda in 1686 as part of the Great Turkish War. His younger brother, Lt.-Col. Hon. Robert Forbes, was killed in the trenches in the Siege of Buda.
He was in favour of William III's successor, Queen Anne, and during her reign, he received an offer of the governorship of Jamaica, which as a non-juror he declined.

Personal life

In October 1678, Forbes married Mary Rawdon, eldest daughter of Sir George Rawdon, 1st Baronet, of Moira, by his second wife, Hon. Dorothy Conway. Together, they were the parents of several children, including:
Lady Granard died on 1 April 1724. Lord Granard died on 24 August 1734 and was buried at Newtownforbes, County Longford. He was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son George.