Sketch of the Life of the late Professor Eaward Forbes. 35 



VI. — Sketch of the Life of the late Professor Edward Forbes. 

 By J. H. Balfour, M.D., Professor of Botany, Edinburgh*. 



While Europe is mourning over many a gallant officer whose 

 life has been sacrificed for his country on the field of battle, the 

 scientific world has been called upon to deplore the loss of one 

 of its leaders who has fallen in the front ranks. Edward Forbes, 

 Regius Professor of Natural History in Edinburgh, has been 

 cut ofi* in the zenith of his fame, and has left a blank which is 

 not easily supplied. Every department of science acknowledges 

 its obligations to him, and his premature death has inflicted a 

 heavy blow on the progress of Natural History. We have lost 

 an original thinker, a careful observer, a correct reasoner, an 

 able writer, a pleasing and painstaking instructor, and a valued 

 friend. His sun is gone down ere it is yet day, and the ex- 

 tinction of such a luminary has cast a shade over the scientific 

 horizon. Truly God's ways are not as our ways, nor his 

 thoughts as our thoughts. Let us learn the lesson which the 

 solemn event teaches, and so number our days as to apply 

 our hearts to heavenly wisdom. 



Edward Forbes (of Scottish extraction) was born in the Isle 

 of Man, on the 12th day of February, 1815. His father was a 

 banker in that island. Even in his early years he had a taste 

 for natural history, and at the age of seven he had collected and 

 arranged a small museum. When not more than twelve years 

 old, Mr. James Wilson informs us, Forbes had imbibed a fond- 

 ness for geological studies, and had perused such works as 

 Buckland's 'Reliquise Diluvianse,' Parkinson's 'Organic Re- 

 mains,' and Conybeare's *^ Geology of England.' He had also j 

 compiled a Manual of British Natural History in all its depart- -L 

 ments. ~ 



He visited London at the age of sixteen, and was engaged — 

 there in studying the art of drawing under Sass. His power of~ 

 delineating with the pencil was called into constant exercise ,„ 

 during his after career, and was displayed alike in his published -~ 

 works and in the illustration of his lectures. His early associates 

 remember well the clever and amusing sketches which he made 

 with the pen during moments of leisure. 



He came to Edinburgh in 1831, and entered the medical i, 

 classes, as being the course of study best fitted for initiating him * 

 to those departments of science to which he meant to devote :• 

 himself. His earliest friend in Edinburgh was John Goodsir 

 (now Professor of Anatomy), with whom he lived in the same 

 lodgings for many years. They had congenial tastes, and pro- 



* Read before the Botanical Society, Thursday, Dec. 14, 1854. 



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