William Forbes, 7th Lord Forbes

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William Forbes, 7th Lord Forbes (1513–1593), was a Scottish landowner. He was the son of John, 6th Lord Forbes, and Christian Lundie.

In 1560 his eldest son John, Master of Forbes, and his half-brother Arthur Forbes (called “Black”) joined a band of nobles who supported Protestant reforms and promised to help England drive French troops from Scotland.

In 1568 Forbes went to Largs with the Earl of Argyll and others, signing a letter to the Duke of Alva asking him to urge Elizabeth I of England to intervene in Scotland and to protest Mary, Queen of Scots’ treatment in England. English diplomats still viewed him as a friend to England. He opposed Mary’s supporters in the Marian Civil War.

In October 1571 the Earl of Huntly sent troops against him, and the king’s side sent 200 men to help Forbes; Arthur Forbes was killed at Tillieangus. They later fought at Craibstone in Aberdeen, where John, Master of Forbes, was captured and taken to Huntly Castle. The English ambassador Henry Carey saw these clashes as a private feud between the Forbes and Gordons.

In 1590 John, Master of Forbes, was accused of imprisoning his father in Druminnor Castle and striking him with the sword’s pommel. His younger brothers, Robert Forbes, Commendator of Monymusk, and James Forbes of Fechell, brought the complaint to the Privy Council, but John denied it. The Council ordered Druminnor to be kept by William Forbes of Tolquhoun and others until Lord Forbes could testify.

In 1591 the Master claimed his brothers had turned their father against him; while Lord Forbes was sick at Dundee, the brothers allegedly robbed Druminnor. The younger brothers received royal letters to support their occupation of Druminnor. Later that year, Lord Forbes allied with several nobles against the Earl of Huntly. In 1592 Forbes and Huntly backed rival candidates for Provost of Aberdeen.

William Forbes married Elizabeth Keith, heiress of Inverugie. Their children included:
- John, Master of Forbes, who in 1592 wanted his son to marry a sister of the Earl of Gowrie, a move Huntly opposed as politically weakening him.
- Arthur, Master of Forbes, who married Jean Elphinstone in Edinburgh on 5 February 1600; it was a double wedding with Anna Elphinstone and the Earl of Sutherland. James VI gave both brides gold chains and hair ornaments.