Sketch of the Life uf the late Prujessor Eaaard Forbes. 'ir> 



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

 By J. H. Balfour, M.D., Professor of Botauy, 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 off 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 w^ays, 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 natui'al 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 iis, Forbes had imbibed a fond- 

 ness for geological studies, and had perused such works as 

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

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

 compiled a Manual of British Natm-al History in all its depart- 

 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 exei-cise 

 during his after career, and w'as displayed alike in his published 

 works and in the illustration of liis 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 

 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, Thursdav, Dec. 14, 1854. 



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