Forbes Family Genealogy & History

Michelle Renee Forbes Guajardo, born on January 8, 1965, is a renowned American actress celebrated for her versatile roles in television and independent films. Known for her dynamic performances, she gained early fame with a dual role in "Guiding Light," earning a Daytime Emmy nomination. Her notable roles include Ensign Ro Laren in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," medical examiner Julianna Cox in "Homicide: Life on the Street," and Maryann Forrester in "True Blood." Forbes has been recognized with a Saturn Award and received a Primetime Emmy nomination for "The Killing." Her film credits include significant roles in "Kalifornia" and "Escape from L.A.," establishing her as a compelling actress in both TV and film.

Mary Forbes, originally Ethel Louise Young, was a prolific British-American film actress with a career spanning from 1919 to 1958, appearing in over 130 films. Born in Hornsey, England, Forbes began her career on the concert platform and debuted on the London stage in 1908. She gained experience managing the Ambassadors Theatre and made her American stage debut in 1913. Forbes became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1943, with actress Lucile Webster Gleason as a character reference. Her longevity in Hollywood and her transition from stage to screen mark her as a significant figure in early 20th-century entertainment.

Married three times, Forbes had three children with her first husband, Ernest J. Taylor. Two of their children, Ralph and Dorothy Brenda, followed in her footsteps into acting, while Phyllis Mary Taylor did not pursue an acting career. Her second marriage was to British actor Charles Quartermaine, and her third to American businessman Wesley Wall, whom she remained with until her passing in 1974.

Stanhope Alexander Forbes (1857–1947) was a prominent Irish artist recognized as a founding member of the Newlyn School of painters, often hailed as 'the father of the Newlyn School.' His career highlights include formative studies at the Royal Academy Schools and painting en plein air in Brittany, which influenced his artistic style. His notable works, such as "A Street in Brittany," were exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Royal Hibernian Academy, enhancing his reputation in the art world.

Born in Dublin, Forbes was the son of Juliette de Guise Forbes, a Frenchwoman, and William Forbes, an English railway manager. He had an older brother, Sir William Forbes. Stanhope Forbes married fellow painter Elizabeth Armstrong, with whom he had a son named Alexander. After Elizabeth's death, he married Maudie Palmer, a former student and family friend.

James David Forbes (1809–1868) was a distinguished Scottish physicist and glaciologist noted for his groundbreaking research on heat conduction, seismology, and glaciers. As a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Edinburgh and later principal of the United College of St Andrews, Forbes made significant contributions to the scientific community. He was recognized with prestigious awards like the Rumford Medal and the Royal Medal for his work on infrared thermal radiation and atmospheric transparency. Forbes also invented an early seismometer and was involved in the study of thermal conductivity and glacier dynamics, where his research led to influential debates in the scientific world.

James David Forbes was born in Edinburgh as the fourth son of Sir William Forbes, 7th Baronet, of Monymusk and Pitsligo, and Williamina Belches of Invermay. His family included notable figures such as Sir John Stuart Hepburn Forbes, an advocate and agriculturalist, and Charles Forbes, a banker, indicating a lineage of prominence and achievement.