George Cockburn
Encyclopedia
Admiral of the Fleet
Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet GCB
(icon; ˈkobʌɾn; 22 April 1772 – 19 August 1853) was a British naval commander of the late 18th through the mid-19th centuries. He held important commands during the Napoleonic Wars
and the War of 1812
and eventually rose to become Admiral of the Fleet
and First Sea Lord
.
, George was the second son of Sir James Cockburn, 8th Baronet
(1729–1804) and his second wife Augusta Anne Ayscough. His maternal grandfather was Francis Ayscough
, Dean of Bristol.
Cockburn went to sea at the age of 14. He rose rapidly in the Royal Navy
, perhaps because his father was a baronet
, but most certainly because he was a brave and resourceful officer. He saw much action during the Napoleonic Wars
and successfully commanded a succession of sloops
, frigate
s and ships of the line
.
After serving on the home station, and in the East Indies
and the Mediterranean, he assisted, as captain of the Minerve
(38) at the blockade of Livorno
in 1796, and fought a gallant action with the Spanish
frigate
Sabina (40). He was present at the battle of Cape St Vincent.
In 1809, in command of the naval force on shore, he contributed greatly to the reduction of Martinique
, and signed the capitulation by which that island was handed over to the British; for his services on this occasion he received the thanks of the House of Commons. After service in the Scheldt
and at the defence of Cadiz
he was sent in 1811 on an unsuccessful mission for the reconciliation of Spain and her American colonies.
By 1812, he was a rear admiral
in charge of the squadron
of the Royal Navy in Spanish
waters, but in that year he was ordered to America.
Cockburn played a major role in the War of 1812
as second in command to Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren
until the end of March 1814 and then to Warren's successor, Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane
for the rest of the war. He cruised relentlessly up and down the Chesapeake Bay
and other parts of the Atlantic coast in 1813 and 1814, seizing American
shipping, disrupting commerce, and raiding the ports. From April 1814 to the end of the war Cockburn was responsible for carrying out government instructions to encourage the emigration of the enslaved Black population. In addition he implemented Cochrane's own plan of recruiting a Corps of Colonial Marines
from among the Black refugees. The most important of Cockburn's actions was the capture and burning of Washington
on 24 August 1814 as an advisor to Major General Robert Ross. He later served as the commander during the British occupation of Cumberland Island and St. Marys, Georgia. The Battle of Fort Peter
was the only result of the campaign.
Cockburn received the order of the Bath
at the beginning of 1815, and after the war, on his return to Europe
, he was immediately given the job of conveying Napoleon in the Northumberland
to Saint Helena
, where he remained for some months as governor
of the island and the Emperor's jailor. He was appointed KCB
in 1815 and GCB
in 1818.
In later life, Cockburn was Commander-in-Chief
on the North American Station from 1833 to 1836, and eventually Admiral of the Fleet
. From 1827 he was a Privy Counsellor
. He was also elected several times to Parliament
as a Tory
(for Portsmouth
1818-1820, Weobly 1820-1828, Plymouth
1828-1832 and Ripon
1841-1847) and served several times as First Sea Lord
(1828–1830; 1834–1835 (very briefly); 1841–1846).
. In 1852, he inherited the family baronetcy from his elder brother, being himself succeeded by his brother William
, dean of York
, who died in 1858. Admiral Cockburn died in 1853 at Leamington Spa
, leaving a daughter.
named Cockburn Sound (City of Cockburn) in Western Australia after the First Sea Lord.
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Admiral of the Fleet
An admiral of the fleet is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In many nations the rank is reserved for wartime or ceremonial appointments...
Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(icon; ˈkobʌɾn; 22 April 1772 – 19 August 1853) was a British naval commander of the late 18th through the mid-19th centuries. He held important commands during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
and the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and eventually rose to become Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
and First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
.
Naval career
Born in 1772 in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, George was the second son of Sir James Cockburn, 8th Baronet
Sir James Cockburn, 8th Baronet
Sir James Cockburn, 8th Baronet was Member of Parliament for Linlithgow Burghs from 1772 to 1784.-Family:He was a son of William Cockburn and his wife and cousin Frances Cockburn. His paternal grandparents were Sir Alexander Cockburn, 6th Baronet and his wife Mary Ancrum. His maternal grandfather...
(1729–1804) and his second wife Augusta Anne Ayscough. His maternal grandfather was Francis Ayscough
Francis Ayscough
Francis Ayscough was a tutor to George III and Clerk of the Closet to his father Frederick, Prince of Wales and later Dean of Bristol Cathedral.-Biography:...
, Dean of Bristol.
Cockburn went to sea at the age of 14. He rose rapidly in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, perhaps because his father was a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, but most certainly because he was a brave and resourceful officer. He saw much action during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
and successfully commanded a succession of sloops
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
, frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s and ships of the line
Ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
.
After serving on the home station, and in the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
and the Mediterranean, he assisted, as captain of the Minerve
French frigate Minerve (1794)
The Minerve was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy. She was captured twice by the British and recaptured once by the French. She therefore served under four names:*Minerve, 1794–1795*HMS Minerve, 1795–1803*Canonnière, 1803–1810...
(38) at the blockade of Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
in 1796, and fought a gallant action with the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
Sabina (40). He was present at the battle of Cape St Vincent.
In 1809, in command of the naval force on shore, he contributed greatly to the reduction of Martinique
Invasion of Martinique (1809)
The invasion of Martinique of 1809 was a successful British amphibious operation against the French West Indian island of Martinique that took place between 30 January and 24 February 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars...
, and signed the capitulation by which that island was handed over to the British; for his services on this occasion he received the thanks of the House of Commons. After service in the Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
and at the defence of Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
he was sent in 1811 on an unsuccessful mission for the reconciliation of Spain and her American colonies.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
in charge of the squadron
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
of the Royal Navy in Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
waters, but in that year he was ordered to America.
Cockburn played a major role in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
as second in command to Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren
John Borlase Warren
Sir John Borlase Warren, 1st Baronet , was an English admiral, politician and diplomat. Born in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, he was the son and heir of John Borlase Warren of Stapleford and Little Marlow...
until the end of March 1814 and then to Warren's successor, Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane
Alexander Cochrane
Admiral Sir Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane GCB RN was a senior Royal Navy commander during the Napoleonic Wars.-Naval career:...
for the rest of the war. He cruised relentlessly up and down the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
and other parts of the Atlantic coast in 1813 and 1814, seizing American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
shipping, disrupting commerce, and raiding the ports. From April 1814 to the end of the war Cockburn was responsible for carrying out government instructions to encourage the emigration of the enslaved Black population. In addition he implemented Cochrane's own plan of recruiting a Corps of Colonial Marines
Corps of Colonial Marines
Corps of Colonial Marines were raised from former slaves as auxiliary units of the Royal Marines for service in the Americas: Two of these units were raised and subsequently disbanded...
from among the Black refugees. The most important of Cockburn's actions was the capture and burning of Washington
Burning of Washington
The Burning of Washington was an armed conflict during the War of 1812 between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the United States of America. On August 24, 1814, led by General Robert Ross, a British force occupied Washington, D.C. and set fire to many public buildings following...
on 24 August 1814 as an advisor to Major General Robert Ross. He later served as the commander during the British occupation of Cumberland Island and St. Marys, Georgia. The Battle of Fort Peter
Battle of Fort Peter
The Battle of Fort Peter, or the Battle of Fort Point Peter or Fort Point Petre, was a successful attack by a British force on St. Marys, Georgia and a smaller force of American soldiers at Fort Peter, a small fort protecting the town. Point Peter is located at the mouth of Point Peter Creek and...
was the only result of the campaign.
Cockburn received the order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
at the beginning of 1815, and after the war, on his return to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, he was immediately given the job of conveying Napoleon in the Northumberland
HMS Northumberland (1798)
HMS Northumberland was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at the yards of Barnard, Deptford and launched on 2 February 1798....
to Saint Helena
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
, where he remained for some months as governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the island and the Emperor's jailor. He was appointed KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1815 and GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1818.
In later life, Cockburn was Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
on the North American Station from 1833 to 1836, and eventually Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
. From 1827 he was a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
. He was also elected several times to Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
as a Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
(for Portsmouth
Portsmouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Portsmouth was a borough constituency based upon the borough of Portsmouth in Hampshire. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.- History :...
1818-1820, Weobly 1820-1828, Plymouth
Plymouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Plymouth was a parliamentary borough in Devon, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in 1298 and again from 1442 until 1918, when the borough was merged with the neighbouring Devonport and the combined area divided into three single-member constituencies.-In the...
1828-1832 and Ripon
Ripon (UK Parliament constituency)
Ripon was a constituency sending members to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1983, centred on the city of Ripon in North Yorkshire.-History:...
1841-1847) and served several times as First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
(1828–1830; 1834–1835 (very briefly); 1841–1846).
Later career
In 1839 he became the first President of the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent SocietyThe Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society
-The Shipwrecked Mariners Society:The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society or the Shipwrecked Mariners for short, is a national charity founded in 1839, which operates throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, whose purpose is to provide help to former merchant seamen,...
. In 1852, he inherited the family baronetcy from his elder brother, being himself succeeded by his brother William
Sir William Cockburn, 11th Baronet
Sir William Cockburn, 11th Baronet was a Church of England clergyman. He was Dean of York and was famously defended on a charge of simony by his nephew Sir Alexander Cockburn, 12th Baronet in 1841....
, dean of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, who died in 1858. Admiral Cockburn died in 1853 at Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
, leaving a daughter.
Family
In 1809 he married his cousin Mary Cockburn; they had one surviving daughter, Augusta Harriot Mary.Honours
In 1827, Captain James StirlingJames Stirling (Australian governor)
Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia...
named Cockburn Sound (City of Cockburn) in Western Australia after the First Sea Lord.
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