Origins of the clan It is possible that the chiefs of Clan Forrester were of
Celtic origin, descending from Marnin the Forrester who in about 1200 held lands in
Dunipace,
Stirlingshire. The founder of the clan is generally regarded as Sir Adam Forrester, 1st of Corstorphine who was an ambassador, merchant,
Provost of Edinburgh,
Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland and Deputy
Chamberlain of Scotland.
Wars of Scottish Independence During the
Wars of Scottish Independence Forresters fought at the
Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333. They also fought at the
Battle of Sauchieburn in the 15th century.
16th century and Anglo-Scottish Wars The chief's family had several landed cadet branches. Amongst them was Sir John Forrester of Niddry who died at the
Battle of Flodden in 1513. There was a
Stirlingshire branch of the clan, the
Forresters of Garden who were heritable keepers of the Torwood (a Royal forest and hunting ground). They owned the barony of Garden as well as
Torwood and the ruins of
Torwood Castle still stand. Sir Duncan Forrester, 1st of Torwood was Comptroller of the Royal Household for
James IV of Scotland. No fewer than eight Forresters of Torwood were Provosts of Stirling burgh. Sir James Forrester, seventh chief of Clan Forrester was killed at the
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547, as was Sir David Forrester, 4th of the Torwood branch of the clan. A cadet of the Forresters of Garden was the first of the Fifeshire Chieftains, the Forresters of Strathendry. The Forresters of Strathendry built Strathendry Castle, a 16th-century tower house where both
Mary, Queen of Scots and
Oliver Cromwell stayed. It is the only Forrester stronghold that is still inhabited today.
17th century and Civil War Sir George Forrester, tenth chief of Clan Forrester was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1633, however when he died the baronetcy became dormant and still awaits a claimant. James and William Baillie who were the sons-in-law of the first Lord Forrester assumed the name and arms of Forrester and inherited the title under a re-grant of the peerage. James was a royalist and was fined by
Oliver Cromwell with his estates becoming burdened in debt. In 1679 he was murdered by his mistress, Mrs Christian Nimmo and his brother who was mad then inherited the title.
18th century and Jacobite risings Colonel George Forrester, the fifth Lord Forrester who was in the Grenadier and Life Guards fought under the
Duke of Marlborough against the French at the
Battle of Oudenarde in 1708 and the
Battle of Malplaquet in 1709. During the
Jacobite rising of 1715 he was wounded at the
Battle of Preston (1715). Eventually the male line died out and the title descended through an heiress to the
Earls of Verulam. ==In France==