Loyal Readers:
How good are you at solving historical puzzles? Mr. Forrest sent me this query and I told him I would write a post about this interesting riddle that he would like to solve. This is what he wrote (Thank you all in advance for helping!):
My uncle has a portrait (attached) which has been passed down the family line. We think it is one of three portraits referred to in a will – the options being
- Charles Macintosh (a Scottish inventor of the Macintosh coat)
- Dr John Forrest (a Physician who served much of his time in the army) (more details on my website here: http://rootsunearthed.com/index.php5?title=John_FORREST_(1804-1865) ), or
- John Graham Rodger (a merchant who later became a magistrate i.e. Justice of the Peace)
I have found on the internet other portraits of Charles Macintosh and am sure the portrait is not of him. This leaves the possibility of either the Physician or a Magistrate.
I wonder if your experience of the 19th century and clothing could identify anything that may point to Physician or Magistrate?
Or possibly you know someone else who could assist?
Jane Austen's World 
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Vic , Linda S.. Linda S. said: RT @janeaustenworld: Tweeps and historians: Can you help identify if this man is a physician or barrister? http://bit.ly/8XKiTZ […]
I am no way an expert, but I would think the severity of his dress would make it more likely that he was a doctor, rather than a merchant turned magistrate. I believe that in the mid-nineteenth century, doctors typically dressed in a manner that emphasized the serious nature of their occupation. Also, the military cut of the collar would make sense for a civilian who spent time with the army. Just a guess!
This post reminds me of the antique show in UK. We need an antique expert here to tell us who he’s and the story behind it.
Really Angelic
I don’t think this is Dr Forrest – he was born in 1804. By the time Forrest was old enough to look like this, he wouldn’t be wearing a wig, and his coat would have a shawl collar.
Judging by the height of the collar and the wig, I would say that the portrait is from the 1790s. It seems likely that it was Rodger. (Or none of the above.)
Hello Chocolatepot,
Thanks for your feedback – possibly this could be Dr John Forrest’s father (also Dr John Forrest) who lived between 1761-1822.
http://rootsunearthed.com/index.php5?title=John_FORREST_(1761-1822)
Taking into account the other comments that it could be a doctor, might this be possible?
Thanks,
Giles
I’ve also just noticed the similarity of dress to John’s cousin William Hutton Forrest whom we do have a painting of:
http://rootsunearthed.com/index.php5?title=William_Hutton_FORREST_(1799-1879)
Giles
Hello Giles,
I am presently writing the history of Stirling Royal Infirmary, which will be closing in mid-2011. Of course John Forrest and especially W H Forrest figure strongly in the chapter which precedes the opening of the hospital in 1874.
While I could use the portrait of W H Forrest given in Drysdale’s book ‘Old Faces, Old Places, Old Stories of Stirling’ as an illustration in the book, you mention that you have a portrait in the family. Would you be willing to allow me to use a copy of this in my book ?
Incidentally, W H Forrest also gets a lot of coverage in the two histories of Stirling, Scotland, which I have previously written.
Thank you.
Craig Mair
Hello Craig,
I understand the portrait of W H Forrest (pictured in the link I previously attached) is in the possession of my distant cousin Bob Forrest.
Please use my website (link below) to contact me with your email address so I can pass on his details to you. I’m sure he’d be interested, as I am in your books concerning the Forrest clan:
http://rootsunearthed.com/index.php5?title=Special:Contact
Could you provide the names of your books?
Regards,
Giles