Bertie Charles Forbes

Bertie Charles Forbes was a renowned Scottish-American journalist and founder of Forbes magazine, who played a significant role in shaping the world of finance and business journalism. Born in New Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Forbes was influenced by the works of Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and Karl Marx. He was also familiar with the writings of Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and Walter Scott. His interest in economics and politics led him to pursue a career in journalism, covering events such as the Boer War and the Russian Revolution.

● Early Life and Education

Forbes was born to a family of modest means, with his father being a Church of Scotland minister, and was raised in a household that valued education and literature. He attended University of St Andrews, where he studied classics and philosophy, and was influenced by the works of Aristotle, Plato, and Immanuel Kant. During his time at university, Forbes developed a strong interest in history, particularly the works of Herodotus, Thucydides, and Edward Gibbon. He also became familiar with the ideas of Charles Darwin, Galileo Galilei, and Isaac Newton.

● Career

Forbes began his career in journalism at the Dundee Courier, where he worked alongside other notable journalists, including Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling. He later moved to South Africa, where he covered the Boer War for the London Daily Telegraph and The Times. Forbes' experiences during the war had a profound impact on his worldview, and he became interested in the works of Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Vladimir Lenin. He also developed a strong appreciation for the British Empire and its institutions, including the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

● Founding of Forbes Magazine

In 1917, Forbes founded Forbes magazine, which quickly became a leading publication in the world of finance and business journalism. The magazine's early success was due in part to Forbes' ability to attract prominent contributors, including J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie. Forbes was also influenced by the ideas of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Alexander Graham Bell, and he became a strong advocate for capitalism and free enterprise. The magazine's coverage of events such as the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression helped to establish it as a leading authority on economics and finance.

● Personal Life

Forbes was married to May Campbell Forbes and had five children, including Malcolm Forbes, who would later succeed him as publisher of Forbes magazine. He was a member of the New York Yacht Club and the Union League Club of New York, and was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. Forbes was also a fan of baseball and the New York Yankees, and he enjoyed the works of William Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and George Bernard Shaw. His interests in art and music led him to become a patron of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Philharmonic.

● Legacy

Forbes' legacy as a journalist and entrepreneur continues to be felt today, with Forbes magazine remaining one of the most influential publications in the world of finance and business journalism. His commitment to capitalism and free enterprise has inspired generations of entrepreneurs and business leaders, including Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Steve Jobs. Forbes' impact on the world of journalism has also been recognized by organizations such as the Pulitzer Prize board and the National Press Club. His name has become synonymous with excellence in business journalism, and his magazine continues to be a leading authority on economics, finance, and politics, with a global reach that includes Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Category:Business