He was born in
Edinburgh on 16 October 1780 the son of James Forrest WS (1744-1820) a lawyer (son of John Forrest (1704-1778) of Grange House in Edinburgh). His mother was Katharine Forrest, the only daughter of James Forrest of Comiston, cousin to his father. She died when he was two years old, and he inherited the large estate of Comiston House. He attended the high school then studied law at the
University of Edinburgh. He was created an advocate in 1803. He was elected
Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1837, succeeding
Sir James Spittal. He was created a baronet in 1838 by
Queen Victoria during his period as Lord Provost. In 1842 he was elected a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Edinburgh. Controversially having served as the Ruling Elder of the
Church of Scotland at the
Disruption of 1843 he left the established church to join the Free Church of Scotland in the
Disruption of 1843. He had previously (1838 to 1840) been
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Scotland. His home in later life was 18 Manor Place in Edinburgh's West End, a substantial terraced townhouse. He continued to also own the large country mansion of Comiston House. He died whilst on a visit to
Plymouth on 5 April 1860 and was returned to
Edinburgh for burial in
Greyfriars Kirkyard. ==Family==