Charles Edward Forbes

1795-1881. Lawyer, Judge and philanthropist. After graduating from Brown University he studied law, first in Enfield and in 1817 in Northampton. After admission to the bar one year later he started his practice. He gained a reputation as a careful, competent lawyer and soon had a full practice. He kept a careful journal during his 64 years in the city and it provides a clear look at a cautious, opinionated, frugal, intelligent man. He was associated with two of the most celebrated wills in Northampton. When the relatives challenged the Oliver Smith will establishing the Smith Charities he assisted Daniel Webster in the successful defense of the will. Later he wrote the will of Sophia Smith establishing Smith College. In 1848 he was appointed an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Although he never made a large amount of money from his law practice he had the reputation of being a canny investor. After investing in the New Haven-Northampton Canal he sold his shares five years later in 1844 and invested it in the railroad as it was rising in importance. His will left $220,000 in gold or its equivalent for "purchase of a site and erection of a building for the accommodation of a public library, and for the purchase of books etc to be placed therein for the use of the inhabitants of the said town of Northampton and their successors forever."

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