John Forbes

John Forbes, also known in Portuguese as João Forbes (1719 or 1733–1808), of Skellater, usually known as Forbes-Skellater, was a Scottish general in the Portuguese service. Life Forbes was the only son of George (Jorge) of Skellater in Aberdeenshire, a branch of the Forbes of Corse. He entered the army when a boy of fifteen as a volunteer at the siege of Maestricht, and was successful in winning a commission. He was essentially a soldier of fortune, and when Portugal applied to Britain for officers to reorganise her army under the Count of Lippe Buckeburg, he was one of the first to volunteer. Promoted to lieutenant in 1747, and to captain in 1756. Forbes remained in Portugal after the termination of the Seven Years' War (1756–1763); as a Roman Catholic who had married a Portuguese lady, he had no difficulty in getting employment.