About Dudley Forbes
Lived 1873 – 1901 (aged 28). Dudley Forbes was a South African cricketer.
Captain Dudley Henry Forbes (13 January 1873 – 21 April 1901) played first-class cricket for Oxford University and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Born in Ireland and educated in England, he was an officer of the British Army during the Second Boer War, but died during the conflict.
Forbes was born at Forenaughts House, near Naas, County Kildare, Ireland. Sent to England to be educated, he attended Eton College before going on to Christ Church, Oxford. Forbes made his first-class debut for Oxford University in 1894, in a 12-per-side match against A. J. Webbe's XI. A right-arm fast bowler, he took 6/86 in his opponent's only innings, which were to be the best bowling figures of his first-class career. Later in 1894, Forbes also took 5/21 against an MCC team, and played in the annual University Match against Cambridge University.
A captain in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Royal Scots, Forbes briefly played club cricket for the West of Scotland Cricket Club, and in May 1899 represented Scotland in a three-day match against Lancashire. In March 1900, his battalion was sent to South Africa to fight in the Second Boer War. Forbes saw service in both the Cape Colony and the Orange River Colony, including a brief period as commandant at Roodeval Spruit. He died of enteric fever in April 1901, at Kroonstad. Forbes's brother-in-law, Alan Hotham, also played first-class cricket, making a single appearance for Hampshire in 1901.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Dudley Forbes's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Dudley Forbes?
South African cricketer (1873-1901)
When was Dudley Forbes born?
Dudley Forbes was born on 13 January 1873 in Naas.
When did Dudley Forbes die?
Dudley Forbes died on 21 April 1901 in Kroonstad.
What was Dudley Forbes's occupation?
Dudley Forbes was a cricketer.
What nationality was Dudley Forbes?
Dudley Forbes was South African.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Dudley Forbes (cricketer)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Dudley Forbes. https://biography.guide/dudley-forbes/
MLA: "Dudley Forbes." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/dudley-forbes/.
Chicago: "Dudley Forbes." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/dudley-forbes/.
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