226 FORBES. FORBES. " Caroline," were again captured, taken into Tagus Roads, escaped in the "Leda," a fishing boat, and went to Lisbon, and finally reached Newport, R. I. Mr. Forbes went into the employ of his cousin, S. Cabot, and James and Thomas S. Perkins, Jrs. In October, 1S17, he went before the mast in the ship "Canton Packet," full of determination to some day command the ship. 'The second voy- age he was made third mate, and was pro- moted to second mate when sixteen years of age. He was captain of the " Levant " when twenty. Since that time he has visited many ports, and been participator in some of the ROBERT B. FORBES. most stirring adventures that can happen to travelers by land or sea. At the age ol twenty-six he commanded his own ship, at twenty-eight he abandoned the sea as a profession, and at thirty-six was at the head of the house of Russell & Company, the largest American house in China. In 1832 he returned home, and on the 20II1 ol January. [834, married Rose Green, daughter of John Smith. Their surviving children are : Robert Bennett, Jr., Edith 1'erkins, and James Murray Forbes, several having died m infancy. In 1S47 Mr. Forbes participated in the humane and timely act of forwarding sup- plies to the Irish, who at that time were suffering all the horrors of famine and fever. A petition had been presented to Congress by Commodore De Kay, and through the influence of Robert C. Win- throp, an amendment to it was carried through, granting the " Macedonian " to De Kay, and the "Jamestown" to Mr. Forbes. People of Boston and vicinity took great interest in this relief expedi- tion and contributed very freely. On the 2,Sth of March, 1847, with a crew of only thirty-one able men, and with about eight thousand barrels of provisions on board, he sailed for Ireland. A remarkably quick passage of fifteen days and three hours brought them to their destination, where they were most enthusiastically received by the grateful people. The voyage of the "Jamestown " was a most pronounced success. Leaving as she did at an unfa- vorable season of the year, and heavily laden, she made a passage that has rarely, if ever, been equaled by a sailing vessel. Mr. Forbes returned to China in 183S and again in iSag. While there on his last visit he held the American vice-con- sulate, and at one time acted for the French in the same capacity. After his return he was engaged in the China trade. At the breaking out of the civil war he organized a coast guard for the instruction of merchant seamen in ordnance, and acted as chief of a commission to superintend the building of nine gun-boats. He was elected a trustee of the Humane Society of Massachusetts in 1841, and was for several years its vice-president. He was one of the founders of the Snug Harbor at Germantown, Quincy, and for some years its president. He has been inter- ested, as owner and builder, in some seventy vessels. He bought the propeller " Pembroke," the only vessel that sailed during the war under a letter of marque. Mr. Forbes is keenly alive to all matters that affect maritime interests, and partic- ularly those that tend to the safety and amelioration of the sailor. He has pro- nounced views upon these and kindred matters, and hopes to live long enough to sec " ocean lanes " and his new rig for ves- sels adopted. FORBES, William Trowbridge, son of Ephraim Trowbridge and Catharine ( lute) Forbes, was born in Westborough, Worcester county. May 24, 1850. His preparatory education was obtained 111 the public schools of Ins native town, Allen's classical school, West Newton, and
