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James David Forbes (1809–1868), FRSE

Image credit: The Royal Society of Edinburgh

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The sitter was the son of the banker Sir William Forbes, 7th Baronet of Pitsligo and of his wife, Williamina Belsches, Scott's first love. In 1860 he succeeded Sir David Brewster as Principal of St Andrews University. Following Melloni's detection of the refraction of thermal radiation, and using a thermopile made under his supervision, Forbes discovered the polarisation of radiant heat. He also demonstrated the double refraction of thermal radiation and then polarised heat in a circulatory manner in a Fresnel rhomb of rock salt. He was a noted Alpinist and between 1841 and 1851 pioneered studies on the nature of glacier flow. In a significant paper of 1846 he proved the former existence of land ice in Skye. His field career was terminated by the onset of consumptive tuberculosis.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Title

James David Forbes (1809–1868), FRSE

Date

1860/1861

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 140 x W 110.5 cm

Accession number

PCF11

Acquisition method

commissioned, 1860

Work type

Painting

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The Royal Society of Edinburgh

22–26 George Street, Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH2 2PQ Scotland

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