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Biographical Description

John Forbes (1707-1759) was a Scottish doctor-turned-soldier and veteran of the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) and the Scottish Campaign (1745-1746). During the French and Indian War, Forbes was promoted to Brigadier General in the British army. In 1758, he led the third, and ultimately failing, attempt to take Fort Duquesne. The French later abandoned the fort and set it ablaze. Afterward, Forbes returned to Philadelphia.