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William Forbes of Callander - An Enterprising
Abertlonian.
William Forbes, son of George Forbes, Colquhonnie, Strathdon, who
followed the business of a coppersmith in Aberdeen, rendered
considerable service to the Church by buying up the large quantities of
obsolete coins which were circulating in the middle of the eighteenth
century He married Janet, daughter of Rev. William Dyce, minister of
Belhelvie, and, of their sons, George, the eldest, followed the business
of his father in Aberdeen, while William, a younger son, set up in a
similar line in London. The last-named possessed a large share of native
shrewdness, and, having got a hint that copper sheathing was to be used
on the vessels of the Royal Navy to avert the ravages of the ship worm,
he boldly went into the market and bought up all the available copper.
When, therefore, the Admiralty advertised for tenders, Forbes was able
to' command his own terms. The application of the copper being found
useless, however, through rapid decay, etc., caused by the use of iron
nails, he was able to buy back considerable quantities at a nominal
price. He then proceeded to show that all difficulties could be overcome
by using copper nails; and, the tests which were entered upon having
proved satisfactory, the Admiralty again bought the copper at a further
large profit to Forbes. Being now in affluent circumstances, he
determined to become a Scottish laird, and the extensive estates of
Callander and Almond being in the market in 1783 (both properties formed
part of the possessions of the Earl of Linlithgow, but, being forfeited
for the part he took in the Stuart rising, had passed to the York
Buildings Company), he went to Edinburgh to purchase. On the day of the
sale he attended in person, and to the surprise of the agents, who had
no idea who he was, commenced to bid. On the running of the sand-glass
he was named the purchaser at the price of £83,100. The agents,
demanding security, were astonished at the presentation by Forbes of a
£100,000 Bank of England note! It is averred that change could not be
obtained in Edinburgh, as all the Scotch banks were reluctant to
negotiate such a valuable note.
Further particulars regarding this enterprising gentleman will be found
in the "Family Record of the Name of Dingwall Fordvce," L, p. 92; and in
D. Murray's "The York Buildings Company," pp. 100-1.
Volume 1
(1908) (pdf)
Volume 2 (1909) (pdf)
Volume 3 (1910) (pdf) |
