Robert Bennet Forbes
| Captain Robert Bennet Forbes | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | 1804 Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Died | November 23, 1889 (aged 85) Milton, Massachusetts |
| Parent(s) |
Ralph Bennet Forbes Margaret Perkins |
Captain Robert Bennet Forbes (1804 – November 23, 1889), was a sea captain, China merchant, ship owner, and writer. He was active in ship construction, maritime safety, the opium trade, and charitable activities, including food aid to Ireland, which became known as America’s first major disaster relief effort. "As a member of the Forbes family of Boston, much of his wealth was derived from the opium and China Trade and he played a prominent role in the outbreak of the Opium War. Despite the ethical problems of dealing in opium, he was known to engage in humanitarian activities, such as commandeering the USS Jamestown to send food to Irish famine sufferers in 1847."
He was born in 1804 in Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts, son of Ralph Bennet Forbes and Margaret Perkins, and brother of John Murray Forbes.
On October 19, 1817 at age 13 he joined the crew of the Canton Packet and made his first voyage to China. He arrived in Canton, China in March 1818 using the eastern route. In June 1818, he returned to Boston.
In 1819 he made a second voyage aboard the Canton Packet. On his next voyage he was promoted to third mate, he became second mate in 1821, and in 1825 was promoted to ship's master.
Aboard the Nile he sailed for Manila. Previous to this time he had been ship's master of the Levant. He became a full captain before he was 20 years old. From Manila the Nile went to China, then to California, and from there to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In 1828 he sailed the Danube for Sturgis & Perkins on a trading voyage to Smyrna, Turkey, and other European ports. He later was captain of the Niantic.
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Wikipedia