Arthur Forbes, 1st Earl of Granard

Arthur Forbes, 1st Earl of Granard (1623–1696) was an Irish Royalist soldier of Scottish descent. He held the position Marshal of Ireland, commander of the Royal Irish Army during the reign of Charles II. A supporter of the Glorious Revolution, he fought on the Williamite side during the War of the Two Kings.

Early life Forbes was the eldest son of Sir Arthur Forbes of Corse Castle and Castle Forbes in Aberdeenshire; who went to Ireland in 1620 with the Master of Forbes's regiment, of which he was lieutenant-colonel, and was granted large estates in counties Leitrim and Longford by King James I. His mother was Jane, daughter of Sir Robert Lauder of the Isle of Bass, and widow of Sir Alexander Hamilton of Killeshandra, County Cavan. His father was killed in a duel in 1632, and he was brought up by his mother.

Personal life He married Catherine Stewart ( Newcomen), daughter of Sir Robert Newcomen of Mosstown, co. Longford, and widow of Sir Alexander Stewart, ancestor of the Mountjoy family. Together, they had five sons and one daughter, including:

His closing years were spent quietly at Castle Forbes, where he died in 1696. He was succeeded by his eldest son Arthur, 2nd Earl of Granard.

Coat of arms