FORBES, JOHAN [SSNE 2239]

Surname

FORBES

First name

JOHAN, JOHANNES ALEXANDER, HANS, JOHN

Title/rank

LT. COLONEL

Nationality

SWEDISH

Social status

OFFICER

Text source

Johannes Alexander Forbes was a fifth generation Scot [son of Mattias, son of Ernald, son of Mattias, son of James, the native Scot]. He studied in Uppsala in 1644 and thereafter [or even before according to the muster rolls] he joined the army with the rank of ensign in Hugo Hamilton's [SSNE 2582] recruited infantry regiment. Forbes then became a lieutenant with the Lifeguard in 1645 and served there as a captain between 1646-1649. In 1655 he was made lieutenant colonel in Francis Johnstoun's [SSNE 2736] Viborg area regiment and also served in Magnus de la Gardie' s infantry regiment. Several letters of his survive. He apparently wrote to his uncle from Riga in 1652 and from Amsterdam in 1661. Despite being so many generations removed from Scotland, he also petitioned Charles II with others regarding their service in the Swedish army.

 

Sources: Svenska Adelns Attartavlor, II, p.788; Willhelm Ridderstad (ed.) "Gula Gardet": bidrag til Kongl. Svea Lifgardes Personal Historia (Stockholm, 1903), p.17; Bertil C. Barkman and  Sven Lundkvist, Kungl. Svea Livgardes Historia, III:II. 1632 (1611) – 1660 (Stockholm, 1966), pp.151, 159; British Museum, Lauderdale Papers, Add. MSS. 23116; Swedish Krigsarkiv, Muster Roll, 1642/9; 1645/1; 1646/1; 1648/25; 1649/16-18; 1655/6,7.

Service record

SWEDEN, HUGO HAMILTON (UPPLAND)

Arrived 1642-01-01, as ENSIGN

Departed 1644-12-31, as ENSIGN

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

SWEDEN, UPPSALA

Arrived 1644-01-01

Departed 1644-12-31

Capacity STUDENT, purpose ACADEMIC

SWEDEN, LIFEGUARD, LIVREGIMENT

Arrived 1645-01-01, as LIEUTENANT

Departed 1654-12-31, as CAPTAIN

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

SWEDEN, FRANCIS JOHNSTOUN'S VIBORG, FINLAND

Arrived 1655-01-01, as LT. COLONEL

Departed 1655-12-31, as LT. COLONEL

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY