John Forrest, CB, QHP (20 June 1804, Stirling, Scotland"Births & Baptisms: Stirling, Scotland: 1804 ". In Old Parish Registers. National Records of Scotland. OPR Ref. 490/0030 0336. ScotlandsPeople. – 10 December 1865, Bath, England"Deaths: Bath, Somerset, England: 1865". In Statutory Register . General Register Office for England and Wales. GRO Ref. 1865/Q3/5C/431) was a British military medical officer.
Forrest dedicated 36 years of service to the Army Medical Staff, providing support to the British Army during numerous conflicts, including the Crimean War. He briefly held the position of overseeing Scutari Hospital where Florence Nightingale was stationed, and through his diligence and duty was made an Honorary Physician to the Queen. The Medical and Surgical Reporter hailed him as "one of the most distinguished medical officers of the British Army".Butler, Samuel Worcester (Ed.) (1865). "Obituary". In Medical and surgical reporter 13. Philadelphia: Alfred Martien. p. 278. Google Book Search. Retrieved on 27 February 2012.
However, at the age of 18, as a student of medicine aiming to deepen his medical knowledge, he became involved in grave-robbing in his hometown of Stirling. He faced charges for this crime, along with the local gravedigger and cemetery key keeper who were detained. He fled the country and was subsequently declared an outlaw. Although his accomplices were initially released, this action incited a riot in the town, compelling authorities to return them to jail for their own safety. A year later, Forrest received a pardon from the King, thanks to a successful petition by his Brother in law. The petition pleaded for clemency based on Forrest's age and his circumstances at the time of the crime.
Childhood and education
John Forrest was born on 20 June 1804 in Stirling, Scotland, the son of John Forrest, a physician, and Elizabeth Glas.
In 1822, when he was a student of medicine at Edinburgh University Forrest was involved in the removal of the body of Mary Witherspoon (née Stevenson) from Stirling Churchyard. The crime was discovered, and John, along with James Shiels, a street sweeper; Daniel Mitchell, a servant and changekeeper; and James McNab, the local gravedigger, were implicated as the culprits.
A trial was held at the Stirling Spring Circuit Court on 19 April 1823; however, Forrest had absconded and was absent from the hearings. He was assumed to be heading for Paris while McNab and Mitchel were held prisoners in the Stirling Tolbooth. The court documents do not mention Shiels, however. The crime had been discovered when the grave of Mary Stevenson, wife of Joseph Witherspoon, that had been dug only a week before, was observed to be a couple of inches below the surface. A rope was discovered near the surface, and digging down to the coffin revealed it had been broken open and the body removed; however, the clothes had been thrown back inside."Trial papers relating to Daniel Mitchell, James McNab, John Forrest for the crime of violation of sepulchres at Church yard: Stirling, 19 April 1823". In High Court of Justiciary processes. National Records of Scotland. Ref. JC26/1823/15
In McNab's statement, he described Forrest as the ring-leader who had approached him a number of times trying to persuade him to assist in the removal of bodies from the church yard, offering him up to four guineas per body. In McNab's role as the church gravedigger he would have held the keys to the churchyard, which would be of great use in such a crime. Although McNab admitted being with Forrest, Mitchel, and Shiels on the night before the crime was discovered, he protested his innocence and claimed the crime was conducted after he left the group.
Mitchel's statement supports the claim that Forrest had offered a number of times three or four guineas for assistance in the removal of bodies from the graveyard. Mitchel also mentions one of Forrest's accomplices being "a tallish man with a great white coat with a number of capes and whom he heard to be called Mr Johnston from Edinburgh". This man was not located and assumed to be a fictitious character.The character described could have been John Forrest's brother-in-law Dr. Alexander Johnston. Johnston was married to John's elder sister Marion and was four years older than John. He had obtained his degree at Edinburgh University and it could be assumed he was still living there and so fitting the description of "Mr Johnston from Edinburgh". The "white coat" may imply a doctor's outfit, however prior to the late 19th century doctors actually wore black.
Mitchel goes on to describe how Forrest had offered him a large amount of whisky, and so being intoxicated, he agreed to go with him, McNab, and Shiels to the churchyard where Mr. Johnston gave him a pound note (which he admits he split with Shiels the following day). However, Mitchel denied assisting with the crime, saying he left immediately afterwards.
As all evidence pointed towards Forrest being the principal offender in the case and that he had absconded, the court decreed that he should be declared an outlaw.Shaw, Patrick & Dunlop, Alex. (eds.) (1824). "Court of Justiciary: West Circuit: No.99". In Cases decided in the Court of Session 2. Edinburgh: Bell & Bradfute. p. 103. Google Book Search. Retrieved on 27 February 2012 Outlawry was one of the harshest criminal penalties, as the eighteen year old Forrest would no longer be protected by the legal system, and anyone could commit a crime against him (including murder) without any punishment. To be declared an outlaw was to suffer a form of civil or social death, as the outlaw was debarred from all civilized society. No one was allowed to give him food, shelter, or any other sort of support—to do so was to commit the crime of aiding and abetting, and to be in danger of the ban oneself. As such, Forrest could not return to his family home in Stirling and had to support himself entirely.
The Lord Advocate also decided that because Forrest was absent, the trial against McNab and Mitchel, who had merely been acting as agents, was halted pro loco et tempore. In Scots law this phrase refers to a case where the trial is stopped but the prosecution retains the right to bring a fresh indictment against the accused. They were freed from jail; however, this incensed the local populace who formed an angry mob and started to riot in the streets. The 77th Regiment was brought down from the Castle to disperse the rioters who fired on the mob in Spittal Street, but no-one was injured, the soldiers intentionally firing over the people's heads. For their own safety, McNab and Mitchel had to take refuge in the jail they had just been released from."Riot in Stirling" (1823). In Broadside. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved on 27 February 2012.Drysdale, William (1898). "The Resurrectionists in Stirling". In Old Faces, Old Places and Old Stories of Stirling. Stirling, Scotland: E. Mackay. p. 254. Internet Archive. Retrieved on 27 February 2012
In spite of his outlaw status, Forrest continued his education at the University of Edinburgh, and in 1823 he became a licentiate of Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.Medical Register (1859). The Medical Register. London: General Medical Council. p. 105
In June 1824, Forrest's brother-in-law, Robert Adie, submitted a "memorial" (a petition) to the King to pardon Forrest.Petition by Robert Adie for Pardon of John Forrest on Grounds of Clemency. The National Archives. Ref. HO 17/7/31 This included an assumption of guilt of the crime but pleaded clemency on a number of factors including:- Forrest's age at the time of the crime - being vulnerable to the influence of others; the fact his father had died only a month before the crime took place; the impact of Forrest's outlawry on his widowed mother; the state of anxiety Forrest had been suffering since his conviction - being rendered a fugitive not protected by the Law; and that another trial could stir up public emotions again as it did previously. Adie also included a number of testimonials from distinguished medical teachers and responsible inhabitants of Stirling attesting to Forrest's good character and diligence as a student. One such character reference included the fact that Forrest had been providing medical assistance to the poor of Edinburgh:
The Petition was successful as on 22 June 1824 Forrest was granted a free pardon by the King."Registrum Magni Sigilli (Paper Register), 17 Jun 1820 – 26 Sep 1825". In Great Seal Register (Registrum Magni Sigilli) Paper Register. National Records of Scotland. Refs. C3/25/00191R, C3/25/00191V"Book of Adjournal, 27 Jan 1823 – 12 Jul 1824". In Books of Adjournal – Series E. National Records of Scotland. Refs. JC4/14/00405/L, JC4/14/00406/R"British Chronicle". In The Edinburgh Magazine, and Literary Miscellany. Edinburgh: Archibald Constable. p244. Google Book Search. Retrieved 27 February 2012
Forrest continued his education and, in 1825 was awarded a Doctorate from Edinburgh University. His dissertation, written in Latin, was on the subject of gangrene.Forrest, John (1825). Dissertatio medica inauguralis, quaedam de gangraena complectens. Wellcome Library. Ref. 27096473
Early military career
Much of Forrest's military career is documented in his obituary in the British Medical Journal:"Obituaries". British Medical Journal 2(247). p. 323
Forrest joined the British Army as a Hospital Assistant on 10 November 1825. Through his diligence, he was promoted to Assistant Surgeon in the 20th Regiment of the Foot on 9 February 1826. This period of history was relatively peaceful, and regiments were posted around the British Colonies to ensure order was maintained. The 20th Regiment was based in India and Forrest was involved in the expedition against the Rajah of Kolapore in 1827.
On 3 September 1829, Forrest was transferred into the 23rd Regiment of Foot where he was attached until 11 October 1831, when he transferred to the 8th West India Regiment of Foot.
Forrest transferred into the hospital staff in St. Ninians, Scotland, on 9 July 1832, where he remained for a number of years. There he married, on 7 March 1839, Ann Mclachlan "Marriages: St. Ninians, Scotland: 1839". In Old Parish Registers. National Records of Scotland. OPR Ref. 488/0060 0300. ScotlandsPeople. daughter of Captain Donald Mclachlan. The following month"Mclachlans of Salachan". In Notes and Queries 171. London: Oxford University Press. p192. they left Stirling with Captain Donald and family in the barque Arione and journeyed to the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, where Forrest and his new wife disembarked. Her father and family continued to Australia, reaching Port Phillip towards the end of 1839, where they settled.Mclachlan, Allan Ronald (1937). "Donald's History". In The Argus 26 November 1937. Melbourne, Australia: Wilson & MacKinnon. p. 16.
Forrest was promoted to surgeon of the 2nd class in the 75th Regiment of Foot where he was attached from 2 July 1841 until 13 May 1842 when he transferred to the hospital staff in Cape Town.
Whilst in Cape Town, Forrest and his wife Ann had two children, Mary Anne (born 1840)1881 England Census, Public Records Office. Ref. RG11/2440/27/13 (age transposed with Husband's) and John (born 2 February 1841).Gravestone of John and Eveline Forrest, Lacey Green, Buckinghamshire However, Ann died soon after on 1 August 1842"Deaths". In The Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette. 5 August 1842. Cape Town, South Africa: W. Bridekirk. and was buried at St George’s Anglican Church, Cape Town on 2 August 1842.Burial Register. St George’s Anglican Church. Cape Town, South Africa
Forrest's role as hospital staff in Cape Town included involvement in the expedition against the insurgent Boers beyond the Orange River in 1845, and in the Kaffir War of 1846, for which he received the South African Medal.