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?
[…] 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