Duncan Forbes of Culloden

Our school is called Duncan Forbes and at reception there is a mosaic of him along with his wife Mary Rose.

Duncan Forbes was born in 1685 in Inverness, he was educated in Inverness, Aberdeen and the Netherlands.  Duncan Forbes became a famous lawyer and was given important jobs in both Edinburgh and Inverness.

He married Mary in 1708 and became the 5th Laird of Culloden in 1734.  During this time there was division in the country about who should be King and everybody was picking a side – Jacobite or Hanoverian.  Duncan was in the middle of this as a peacemaker and thought both sides should treat each other well even though they disagreed.

In 1737 Duncan Forbes was given the most important legal job in Scotland – Lord President of the Court of Session.

When the Jacobite rising started again Duncan Forbes wrote to both sides trying to stop them fighting.  Ironically, the final battle of 1746 between the sides happened on his land – Culloden.  Eventually he supported the Hanoverian side to success, however he was more glad to see the fighting stop.

Following the battle, Duncan Forbes campaigned for the prisoners and Jacobite supporters to be treated kindly.  It didn’t happen and he lost some of his reputation for trying.

He died a year later in 1747 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh.  In 1753 an impressive statue was put in Parliament House, Edinburgh.

We are proud of his accomplishments and the peace-keeping efforts he made at a very difficult time in Scottish history.