Duncan Forbes was born on 10 November 1685, in Culloden House near Inverness, second son of Duncan Forbes (1644-1704) and his wife Mary Innes (ca 1650-1716).
The fifth of nine children, he had seven sisters; Jean (ca 1678-?)
and Margaret both married, while little is known of the others.
His elder brother, John (1673-1734), was 12 years older; despite the age difference, the two were close friends all their lives.

Forbes was educated at the local grammar school before progressing to Marischal College, Aberdeen in 1699.
After briefly attending the University of Edinburgh in 1705, he completed his legal studies at Leyden University in the Netherlands.

He returned home in 1707 and in October 1708 married Mary Rose (1690-before 1717), whose family owned nearby Kilravock Castle.
Forbes inherited the Culloden estates when his elder brother died childless in 1734 and these later passed to his son John (1710-1772).
Duncan Forbes was born on 10 November 1685, in Culloden House near Inverness, second son of Duncan Forbes (1644-1704) and his wife Mary Innes (ca 1650-1716). The fifth of nine children, he had seven sisters; Jean (ca 1678-?) and Margaret both married, while little is known of the others. His elder brother, John (1673-1734), was 12 years older; despite the age difference, the two were close friends all their lives.
Forbes was educated at the local grammar school before progressing to Marischal College, Aberdeen in 1699. After briefly attending the University of Edinburgh in 1705, he completed his legal studies at Leyden University in the Netherlands.
He returned home in 1707 and in October 1708 married Mary Rose (1690-before 1717), whose family owned nearby Kilravock Castle. Forbes inherited the Culloden estates when his elder brother died childless in 1734 and these later passed to his son John (1710-1772).
Duncan Forbes of Culloden (judge, born 1685)