FORREST 1851 he was chosen clerk of the United States house of representatives, and was reflected in 1853. Meanwhile his connection with the " Pennsylvanian " had ceased, and he had be- come editor of the " Union, 1 ' the democratic organ at Washington. He resigned this post in 1856, returned to Pennsylvania, and was chosen chairman of the democratic state com- mittee. In January, 1857, he was democratic candidate for the office of United States sena- tor, but was defeated by Mr. Cameron, and on Aug. 1 following began in Philadelphia the publication of "The Press," an independent democratic journal. Although he had advocated the election of Mr. Buchanan to the presidency, he became a determined opponent of his ad- ministration when the Lecompton constitution of Kansas became a topic of public debate; and he was again chosen clerk of the house of representatives in the 36th congress by the republicans. During the civil war he gave a constant support to the national government. In 1861 he began the publication, in addition to " The Press " in Philadelphia, of a weekly paper in the city of Washington entitled " The Chronicle;" this also began to appear daily in October, 1862. From 1861 to 1868 Mr. For- ney was secretary of the United States senate. In 1867 he published "Letters on Europe," comprising a series of sketches of travel con- tributed to " The Press " while abroad ; and in 1873 "Anecdotes of Public Men," a collection of papers published originally in the "Sunday Chronicle" and "The Press." FORREST, Edwin, an American actor, born in Philadelphia, March 9, 1806, died there, Dec. 12, 1872. His father was Scotch, his mother of German birth. He exhibited from an early age a taste for the stage, and when 11 years old participated in theatrical representa- tions as a member of an amateur club, some- times performing female parts. His first ap- pearance on the regular stage was on Nov. 27, 1820, when he acted Douglas in Home's play of that name. His next part, played in the same engagement, was Frederick in Mrs. Inchbald's "Lovers' Vows." A protracted professional tour in the west and south ensued, in which he won considerable reputation. He essayed Shakespearian characters first in 1822, in Cin- cinnati, where he performed Richard III. and Othello. His first great success was achieved May 26, 1826, in the Park theatre, New York, as Othello. This led to a long engagement at the Bowery theatre, where he won some of his greatest triumphs. In October, 1829, he went to the Park theatre, where he long enjoyed ex- traordinary popularity. There he first acted Metamora (Dec. 15, 1829) in John H. Stone's tragedy of that name, and Spartacus (Sept. 25, 1831) in Dr. Bird's " Gladiator," both of which were written to fit his peculiar talents. In 1835 he visited Europe, and after a long tour on the continent appeared as Spartacus in Drury Lane theatre, Oct. 17, 1836. He met with success everywhere, and received many courtesies FORSKAL 323 from eminent literary men and from those of his profession, particularly from Mr. Macready. In 1837, he married Catharine Norton Sin- clair, daughter of John Sinclair the singer, and soon afterward returned to the United States, where he was welcomed by enthusiastic audiences. After an engagement in Philadel- phia, he played at the Park theatre in New York, where he first appeared as Aylmere, May 24, 1841, in Robert T. Conrad's play of " Aylinere, the Bondsman of Kent," better known as "Jack Cade." This was one of his most effective characters, in which he appeared to the best advantage. In 1845 Mr. and Mrs. Forrest returned to London. During this visit, which lasted two years, a rupture occurred in the friendly relations between Forrest and Mac- ready, and to the zeal with which the friends of the former espoused his quarrel was due the disgraceful riot in New York, May 10, 1849, during an engagement of Macready at the Astor place opera house. Soon after Forrest separated from his wife for alleged misconduct on her part, and in 1850 counter suits for a divorce on the ground of adultery were insti- tuted. His conduct at this time alienated from him the sympathy of the better class of people. Mrs. Forrest obtained a divorce from him, for- feiting none of her honors and legal rights, and was decreed an allowance of $3,000 a year as alimony, a decision which he contested up to the court of last resort. In 1850 Forrest pur- chased an estate on the Hudson river and built a house which he named Fonthill. He sold this, at a large advance on its cost, for a con- vent, and in 1855 bought a residence at Spring Brook, near Philadelphia, where he resided until his death. He retired from the stage in 1858, but reappeared in 1863 and again in 1867. His last engagement began on Feb. 6, 1871, in the Fourteenth street theatre, New York, during which he played Lear and Richelieu ; but he was compelled by illness to retire. Three weeks before his death, he appeared in Stein- way hall, New York, as a reader of " Hamlet " and " Othello." He died of apoplexy, surviving the attack only half an hour. Forrest accumu- lated a large fortune, estimated at upward of $1,000,000. By his will he left a large part of his fortune to establish an institution for aged and destitute actors. His splendid library, which he had spent many years in gathering, the Shakespeare collection being said to be the finest in the world, was almost entirely de- stroyed by fire in his house in Philadelphia, Jan. 15, 1873. His biography, by the Rev. W. R. Alger, is in preparation. FORSRAL, Peter, a Swedish traveller and nat- uralist, born in Kalmar in 1736, died in Yerim, Arabia, July 11, 1763. He studied at Gottin- gen and at Upsal, published a thesis in opposi- tion to the then dominant philosophy of Wolf, and incurred the displeasure of government by a treatise on civil liberty. He was appointed to a professorship in the university of Copen- hagen, and by recommendation of Linna3us was
