Forbes, Archibald

Journalist, especially noted as a war correspondent. Forbes was indirectly in part responsible for FH's gaining the editorship of the Evening Standard: he had written a report accusing Lord Salisbury of being a slum landlord. Before publishing the report, the editor Escott asked FH to check its accuracy; his investigation showed that Forbes had done a sloppy job, and that Salisbury was actually fair and generous to his tenants. Escott's relief at having been rescued from the danger of a damaging libel action helped persuade him to support FH in his bid for the editorship of the Standard.