Forbes, George, 1849-1936

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person

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Forbes, George, 1849-1936

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Forbes, George, 1849-1936

Forbes, George, Lord Forbes, 3rd Earl of Granard (1734); Ambassador to Russia

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Forbes, George, Lord Forbes, 3rd Earl of Granard (1734); Ambassador to Russia

Forbes, George (scientist)

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Forbes, George (scientist)

Forbes, George, Viscount Forbes

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Forbes, George, Viscount Forbes

Forbes, George, of Add Ch 17215

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Forbes, George, of Add Ch 17215

Forbes, George, of West Coates, Edinburgh

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Forbes, George, of West Coates, Edinburgh

Forbes, George, Lieutenant; RN

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Forbes, George, Lieutenant; RN

Forbes, George

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Forbes, George

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Exist Dates

Exist Dates - Date Range

1849

1849

Birth

1936

1936

Death

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Biographical History

Engineer and astronomer. Fellow of the Royal Society.

From the description of Papers, 1873-1910. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81069595 From the description of Papers, 1871-1929. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122564559

Epithet: Lord Forbes, 3rd Earl of Granard (1734); Ambassador to Russia

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001242.0x0002ef

George Forbes, the electrical engineer, was born in Edinburgh in 1849, the younger son of James David Forbes (later Principal of St Andrews University) and his wife, Alicia. Forbes was educated at Edinburgh Academy, St Andrews and Cambridge Universities, and graduated BA in 1871. From 1872-1880 he was Professor of Natural Philosophy at Anderson's University, where he collaborated with James Young on research into the velocity of light. He took a keen interest in astronomy, and led the British expedition to Hawaii in 1874 to observe the transit of Venus, returning to Scotland via Beijing and St Petersburg. Through contacts made during this journey, Forbes returned as a war correspondent with the Russian Army during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, reporting for 'The Times'. In the 1880s and 1890s, Forbes worked extensively on electrical power engineering and advocated the use of carbon brushes in electric motors rather than the wire or gauze which were then employed. From 1891-1895 Forbes was Consulting Engineer on the Niagara Falls hydroelectric scheme and advised on other schemes in India, South Africa, New Zealand and Upper Egypt. In the early twentieth century Forbes became interested in military engineering and developed rangefinders and methods of signalling for submarines. He also returned to his early love of astronomy and delivered the David Elder Lectures on Astronomy at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, the successor to Anderson's University. Forbes published extensively, received many honours and was a member of many distinguished learned societies worldwide. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1887. In later life he lived modestly in his 'Shed' at Pitlochry, overlooking the hydroelectric dam at Loch Faskally.

From the guide to the Papers of George Forbes, 1866-1928, 1968, 2004, (Strathclyde University Archives)

Title: Viscount Forbes

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001242.0x0002f6

Epithet: of Add Ch 17215

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001242.0x0002f1

Epithet: Lieutenant; RN

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001242.0x0002ed

Epithet: of West Coates, Edinburgh

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001242.0x0002f5

eng

Latn

External Related CPF

https://viaf.org/viaf/30293118

https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n86869955

https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n86869955

https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5539344

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Languages Used

eng

Zyyy

Subjects

Astronomy

Astronomy

Electrical engineering

Hydroelectric power

Philosophy

World's Columbian Exhibition

Nationalities

Activities

Engineer

Occupations

Astronomers

Legal Statuses

Places

Edinburgh, Scotland

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Hamburg, Germany

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Cadiz, Spain

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Alicante, Spain

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

England

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Cadiz, Spain

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Georgia, U.S.A.

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Minorca, Spain

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Livonia, Russia

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Calenberg, W. Prussia

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Convention Declarations

<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>

General Contexts

Structure or Genealogies

Mandates

Identity Constellation Identifier(s)

w67w73zd

17666080