Roll of Honor
Robert Forsyth
Incident
Marshal Robert Forsyth, believed to be one of the first U.S. Marshals killed in the line of duty, was shot and killed while he attempted to serve civil papers on a man. The suspect and his brother had holed up in an upstairs bedroom. As Marshal Forsyth attempted to gain access to the room, the man told him not to come any closer. At the same time, the suspect fired a shot through an opening in the door, fatally wounding Marshal Forsyth. After being arrested, the man twice escaped from jail, fled the state, and was never recaptured. One of the brothers died in Kentucky in 1817, and the second died in Georgia in 1826. Marshal Forsyth, who served in the American Revolutionary War, had been with the agency for more than four years after being named one of the first 13 marshals by George Washington. He was survived by his wife and two sons, the younger of whom became Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the governments of two presidents and whose work included the purchase of Florida from the Spanish. Marshal Forsyth is buried in Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons, the younger of whom became Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the governments of two presidents and whose work included the purchase of Florida from the Spanish.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-16B7D14F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute - 1 candle.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Marshal Forsyth gave the United States Department of Justice 4 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert Forsyth served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Marshal Robert Forsyth is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, 251 of 313 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Forsyth's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Forsyth Compares
Offender Outcome
Escaped
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Forsyth is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Forsyth was killed by handgun; pistol.
Others Who Wore This Badge
312 officers from United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
