Forbes, Patrick

Forbes, Patrick bishop of Aberdeen, was born of a noble family in Aberdeenshire in 1564, and became "laird of Corse" and baron of O'Neil. He was educated at Aberdeen ands St. Andrew's. "For a good space," says bishop Keith, "he refused to enter into holy orders; but at last, when he was forty-eight years old, viz. anno 1612, he was prevailed upon a very singular accident having intervened, which made him then yield, namely, the earnest obtestation of a religious minister is the neighborhood, who, in a fit of melancholy, had stabbed himself, but survived to lament his error." He became pastor of Keith in Morayshire, where he remained until 1618, when he was elected bishop of Aberdeen, on the recommendation of the king. He died March 28, 1635. "He was wont to visit his diocese in a very singular retinue, scarce any person hearing of him until he came into the church on the Lord's day; and according as he perceived the respective ministers to behave themselves, he gave this instructions to them." He wrote Commentaria in Apocalypsin,. cum Appendice (Amst. 1646, 4to); translated, An exquisite Commentary on the Revelation (London, 1613, 4to) — a treatise entitled Exercitationes de Verbo Dai; and a Dissertatio de Versionibus vernaculis. He was a great benefactor to Aberdeen University, of which he was chancellor, and he revived the professorships of law, physic, and divinity. — Keith, Historical Catal. of Scottish Bishops

(Edinb. 1824, 8vo); Burnet, History of our own Times, Hook, Eccl. Biog. 5:157.