B. C. Forbes

Lore & Background

Forbes was born in New Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of Agnes (Moir) and Robert Forbes, a storekeeper and tailor at Whitehill, one of their ten children. He attended University College, Dundee, which was then part of the University of St Andrews. In 1897, he worked as a reporter and editorial writer with a local newspaper. In 1901, he moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he worked on the Rand Daily Mail under its first editor, Edgar Wallace. In 1904, he immigrated to New York City where he was employed as a writer and financial editor at the Journal of Commerce before joining the Hearst chain of newspapers as a syndicated columnist in 1911. After two years, he became the business and financial editor at Hearst's New York American, where he remained until 1916. He founded Forbes magazine in 1917 and remained the magazine's editor-in-chief until his death in New York City in 1954, though he was assisted in his later years by his two eldest sons, Bruce Charles Forbes and Malcolm Stevenson Forbes. Forbes was the founder of the Investors League in 1942.

Reader's Guide

Bertie Charles Forbes was a Scottish-American financial journalist and author who founded the business magazine that bears his name. Born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, he was one of ten children of a storekeeper and tailor. He attended University College, Dundee, then part of the University of St Andrews. His career in journalism began in 1897 as a reporter and editorial writer for a local newspaper. In 1901, he moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, working for the Rand Daily Mail under its first editor, Edgar Wallace. He immigrated to New York City in 1904, where he worked as a writer and financial editor for the Journal of Commerce. In 1911, he joined the Hearst newspaper chain as a syndicated columnist, and two years later became business and financial editor at Hearst's New York American, a position he held until 1916. In 1917, he launched Forbes magazine and served as its editor-in-chief until his death in 1954, assisted in his later years by his two eldest sons, Bruce Charles Forbes and Malcolm Stevenson Forbes. He also founded the Investors League in 1942. Forbes authored nine books, including works on business, finance, and personal success, such as *Finance, Business and the Business of Life* (1915) and *Men Who Are Making America* (1917). His legacy is carried on by his family, who have continued to lead the magazine. He maintained ties to Scotland throughout his life, returning to Buchan every two years to host a picnic for people from his birthplace of Whitehill.

Did You Know?

• Forbes authored nine books, including 'Finance, Business and the Business of Life' (1915) and 'Men Who Are Making America' (1917).
• He was the founder of the Investors League in 1942.
• His two eldest sons, Bruce Charles Forbes and Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, assisted him in his later years at Forbes magazine.