John Murray Forbes

John Murray Forbes was a renowned American businessman and philanthropist who played a significant role in the development of China trade and American railroads. Born in Bordeaux, France, to Ralph Bennet Forbes and Margaret Perkins Forbes, he was exposed to international trade and commerce from a young age, with his family having strong connections to Boston, Massachusetts and Perkins & Delano. His early life was influenced by his family's interactions with notable figures such as Robert Bennet Forbes and Thomas Handasyd Perkins.

● Early Life and Education

John Murray Forbes spent his early years in France and China, where his family was involved in the China trade, working with companies like Russell & Company and Perkins & Delano. He received his education at Round Hill School in Northampton, Massachusetts, and later at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. During his time at Round Hill School, he was influenced by the school's founders, Joseph Green Cogswell and George Bancroft. Forbes' family connections also introduced him to prominent individuals like Abbot Lawrence and Amos Adams Lawrence, who would later play important roles in his life.

● Business Career

Forbes began his business career in China, working for Russell & Company, a prominent trading company founded by Samuel Russell. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a partner in the company and playing a key role in the development of the China trade. Forbes was also involved in the Opium Wars, working with figures like Lin Zexu and Charles Elliot. In the United States, he invested in various ventures, including railroads like the Michigan Central Railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. Forbes worked closely with other notable businessmen, such as Jay Gould, Jim Fisk, and Cornelius Vanderbilt, to shape the American railroad industry. His business dealings also brought him into contact with politicians like Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant.

● Philanthropy and Later Life

In his later years, Forbes turned his attention to philanthropy, donating to various causes, including Harvard University and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. He was also a strong supporter of the Abolitionist movement, working with figures like William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass. Forbes' philanthropic efforts were influenced by his connections to the Unitarian Church and his friendships with individuals like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. He continued to be involved in business, serving on the boards of companies like the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and the Old Colony Railroad. Forbes' later life was also marked by his interactions with notable figures like Theodore Roosevelt and Grover Cleveland.

● Family and Legacy

John Murray Forbes was married to Sarah Swain Hathaway, and they had several children, including William Hathaway Forbes and Francis Blackwell Forbes. His family continued to play important roles in American business and society, with his son William Hathaway Forbes serving as a director of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and his son Francis Blackwell Forbes working as a botanist and explorer. Forbes' legacy is remembered through his contributions to the development of American railroads and his philanthropic efforts, which supported institutions like Harvard University and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. His life and work are also commemorated through the Forbes House Museum in Milton, Massachusetts, which showcases the history of the Forbes family and their connections to Boston, Massachusetts and China trade. Category:American businesspeople