John Forbes (1740-1783)
Member of the Governor's Council & Chief Justice of East Florida
He was born in Scotland and was educated at King's College, Aberdeen (M.A.). Having become a clergyman, in 1763 he was appointed Minister at St. Augustine in East Florida and emigrated there the following year. In 1769, he travelled to Boston where he married Dorothy, daughter of James Murray, Member of the North Carolina Assembly. They started married life in Florida but the climate and living conditions saw Dorothy and their children return to Boston. Forbes was appointed to the Governor's Council and was Chief Justice of East Florida. On the outbreak of Revolution, Forbes and East Florida remained loyal to the crown until the area was ceded to Spain in the Treaty of Paris, 1783. Forbes returned to England and died later that same year.
