California State Officials Biographies 1911

EDWIN ALEXANDER FORBES

Submitted by Nancy Pratt Melton

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THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
 (Republican) was born in Sierra County, California, July 
20, 1860. In 1867 moved to the Oregon House Valley, Yuba County, where he was 
reared on a farm. Attended the common schools until eighteen years of age, when 
he received a certificate to teach. Taught school until 1881. Entered the Law 
Department, University of California, in August, 1881. Graduated in May, 1884. 
Was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State of California in 
June, 1884. Elected District Attorney of Yuba County in 1884, which office he 
held for four terms, until 1892. Admitted to practice in the Federal courts of 
the United States. Became interested in dredge mining, electric railroading and 
land enterprises to such an extent that he retired from the practice of law in 
1905 and thereafter devoted his time to private business. General Forbes always 
had a strong inclination for military matters. He enlisted as a private of the 
National Guard of California on May 20, 1881, and has served on and off until 
the present time, having passed up through the various grades of official rank 
in different military organizations of the State until he attained the rank of 
brigadier general. At the commencement of the Spanish-American war General 
Forbes was Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Regiment of Infantry, National Guard 
of California, and volunteered his services to the Governor of California for 
that war. He was commissioned as Major in the Eighth California Infantry, U. S. 
Volunteers, and served until the muster out of his regiment in 1899. In the year 
1910, accompanied by his family, he made a tour of the world and studied the 
military systems of the old world. Upon his return from this tour, General 
Forbes was appointed The Adjutant General of the State of California by Governor 
Hiram W. Johnson.
 

Source: California Blue Book, or State Roster, 1911
Compiled by Frank C. Jordan, Secretary of State
Friend W. Richardson, Superintendent of State Printing, Sacramento, CA, 1913