his own Port Phillip Christian Herald. The Chalmers Free Church School began in purpose-built premises at what is now 257 Spring Street as a small co-educational school under George McMaster, an experienced Scottish teacher. The school was named after Thomas Chalmers, the first Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland Assembly. the students were transferred to the Knox school in May 1851 and the premises kept ready for the arrival of a rector for a boys college. Forbes was keen to see a superior educational institution which would provide an education in the higher branches of science and literature as 'the first step towards the training of a Colonial ministry from among the Colonial youth.' He personally sought and obtained the assistance of Miss Mure of Warriston, Edinburgh, to guarantee the salary of a rector and so make the project viable. The Academy, as it was called, opened in the Chalmers premises 6 October 1851 with Robert Lawson as rector. The Academy moved to the south-west corner of Spring and Little Collins Streets in 1852, and to East Melbourne in 1854 where it soon adopted the name Scotch College. Forbes died shortly before the opening. Scotch College, now located in Hawthorn, opened the first stage of the impressive buildings of the James Forbes Academy in 2002. Forbes and politics He was an early temperance advocate and, given the variety of religious bodies in the colony, was strongly opposed to churches receiving financial aid from the state. Family life In 1845, Forbes married Helen Clow (1822–1898), the daughter of James Clow. They had four children: Margaret (1846) who married Robert Chirnside. James (1847–1898) who died unmarried and was buried with his parents. Helen (1849) who married Alexander Creswick. Charles (1851–1901), also a bachelor, baptised by his father as his last ministerial act. Death and legacy Forbes' passing was much lamented. In 1855 his remains were removed to the new Melbourne Cemetery and a memorial erected. His name is held in honour still by both the Presbyterian Church of Victoria formed in 1859 as a union of most of the different strands of Presbyterianism, and by those few who continued the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria and who in 1953 united with the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia. See also Adam Cairns Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria John Dunmore Lang William Miller Presbytery of New South Wales Scotch College, Melbourne Scots' Church,