Thomas Cochrane, 8th Earl of Dundonald
Encyclopedia
Thomas Cochrane, 8th Earl of Dundonald (1691 – 31 October 1778) was a nobleman, army officer and politician.
Thomas was born in 1691, the seventh son of William Cochrane of Ochiltree
, and his wife Lady Mary Bruce, eldest daughter of Alexander Bruce, 2nd Earl of Kincardine
. He entered the army, becoming a cornet
in the Royal Regiment of Dragoons in 1713, and a captain in the 27th Regiment of Foot
in 1716. He rose to the rank of major in 1718 and was Fort Major at Fort St Philip
on Minorca
. He became Member of Parliament
for Renfrewshire
in 1722, and represented the constituency until 1727. He was Commissioner of the Excise for Scotland from 1730 until 1764. He supported the Hanoverians
during the Jacobite Rising of 1745
, and later gave evidence against the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Archibald Stewart
, who had surrendered the city to the Jacobite
s.
He acceded to the title of Earl of Dundonald
on the death of his cousin, William Cochrane, the seventh earl, on 9 July 1758. William, an army officer, had been killed at the Siege of Louisbourg
, and died without issue. As the eldest surviving son by now of William Cochrane of Ochiltree, Thomas had already inherited the family estates at Culross
and Ochiltree.
, born in 1748, who became an inventor and succeeded his father in the earldom, and secondly Charles, born in 1749 and who also embarked on a career in the army. He married Catherine, the daughter of Major John Pitcairn
, and distinguished himself during the American War of Independence by carrying despatches from Sir Henry Clinton
to Lord Cornwallis
at the Siege of Yorktown
, as a result of which Cornwallis made him his aide de camp. Charles Cochrane was killed shortly before the surrender. His third son, John, was born in 1750, and his fourth, James Atholl, was born in 1751 and entered the church, becoming vicar for Mansfield
. His fifth, Basil, was born in 1753 and entered the Indian civil service. His sixth son, Alexander Forrester Inglis
, was born in 1758, and entered the Royal Navy
. He rose to be admiral of the white, an MP, and a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath
.
His seventh son, George Augustus Frederick, was born in 1762. He joined the army, reaching the rank of colonel and was an MP. His eighth and youngest son, Andrew James, was born in 1767. He also served in the army, reaching the rank of brigadier
, sat as MP for several constituencies, and was Governor
of Dominica
. Less honourably, he was indicted for his role in the Great Stock Exchange Fraud of 1814
, which also brought disgrace upon Andrew's nephew, the prominent naval officer Thomas Cochrane, Lord Cochrane
.
Thomas Cochrane died on 31 October 1778 and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son Archibald, who became the 9th Earl of Dundonald.
Thomas was born in 1691, the seventh son of William Cochrane of Ochiltree
Ochiltree
Ochiltree, spelt Uchletree in the Middle Ages, is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland near Auchinleck and Cumnock. It is one of the oldest villages in East Ayrshire with archaeological remains indicating Stone Age and Bronze Age settlers....
, and his wife Lady Mary Bruce, eldest daughter of Alexander Bruce, 2nd Earl of Kincardine
Alexander Bruce, 2nd Earl of Kincardine
Alexander Bruce, 2nd Earl of Kincardine FRS was a Scottish inventor, politician, judge and freemason, responsible for developing the pendulum clock, in collaboration with Christiaan Huygens....
. He entered the army, becoming a cornet
Cornet (military rank)
Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. A cornet is a new and junior officer.- Traditional duties :The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet"....
in the Royal Regiment of Dragoons in 1713, and a captain in the 27th Regiment of Foot
27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot
The 27th Regiment of Foot was an Irish infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1689 and amalgamated into The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1881.- History :...
in 1716. He rose to the rank of major in 1718 and was Fort Major at Fort St Philip
St. Philip's Castle
St. Philip's Castle was a fortress guarding the entrance to the port of Mahón...
on Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
. He became Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Renfrewshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 until 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885....
in 1722, and represented the constituency until 1727. He was Commissioner of the Excise for Scotland from 1730 until 1764. He supported the Hanoverians
House of Hanover
The House of Hanover is a deposed German royal dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
during the Jacobite Rising of 1745
Jacobite Rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745, often referred to as "The 'Forty-Five," was the attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for the exiled House of Stuart. The rising occurred during the War of the Austrian Succession when most of the British Army was on the European continent...
, and later gave evidence against the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Archibald Stewart
Archibald Stewart
Archibald Stewart was an Australian trade unionist and official.Stewart was born at Sebastopol to Scottish-born parents: miner John Stewart and Anne, née Erskine. His father worked as caretaker of the botanical gardens in Creswick and he took numerous jobs in his youth...
, who had surrendered the city to the Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
s.
He acceded to the title of Earl of Dundonald
Earl of Dundonald
Earl of Dundonald is a title in the Peerage of Scotland.The Earldom was created in 1669 for the Scottish soldier and politician William Cochrane, 1st Earl of Dundonald, along with the subsidiary title of Lord Cochrane of Paisley and Ochiltree, with remainder to his heirs male, failing which to his...
on the death of his cousin, William Cochrane, the seventh earl, on 9 July 1758. William, an army officer, had been killed at the Siege of Louisbourg
Siege of Louisbourg (1758)
The Siege of Louisbourg was a pivotal battle of the Seven Years' War in 1758 which ended the French colonial era in Atlantic Canada and led directly to the loss of Quebec in 1759 and the remainder of French North America the following year.-Background:The British government realized that with the...
, and died without issue. As the eldest surviving son by now of William Cochrane of Ochiltree, Thomas had already inherited the family estates at Culross
Culross
The town of Culross, pronounced "Coo-ros", is a former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland.According to the 2006 estimate, the village has a population of 395...
and Ochiltree.
Family and issue
Cochrane was married twice, firstly to his cousin, Elizabeth Kerr, in 1721. They had two children, a son Thomas who died young, and a daughter, Grizel. Elizabeth died in 1743, and on 6 September 1744 he married Jane Stuart. They had a number of children, firstly ArchibaldArchibald Cochrane, 9th Earl of Dundonald
Archibald Cochrane, 9th Earl of Dundonald was a Scottish nobleman and inventor. The son of Thomas Cochrane, 8th Earl of Dundonald, he joined the British Army as a youth and also served time in the Royal Navy before returning to Culross in 1778 after inheriting the Earldom of Dundonald from his...
, born in 1748, who became an inventor and succeeded his father in the earldom, and secondly Charles, born in 1749 and who also embarked on a career in the army. He married Catherine, the daughter of Major John Pitcairn
John Pitcairn
John Pitcairn was a British Marine who was stationed in Boston, Massachusetts at the start of the American Revolutionary War....
, and distinguished himself during the American War of Independence by carrying despatches from Sir Henry Clinton
Henry Clinton (American War of Independence)
General Sir Henry Clinton KB was a British army officer and politician, best known for his service as a general during the American War of Independence. First arriving in Boston in May 1775, from 1778 to 1782 he was the British Commander-in-Chief in North America...
to Lord Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG , styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator...
at the Siege of Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
, as a result of which Cornwallis made him his aide de camp. Charles Cochrane was killed shortly before the surrender. His third son, John, was born in 1750, and his fourth, James Atholl, was born in 1751 and entered the church, becoming vicar for Mansfield
Mansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
. His fifth, Basil, was born in 1753 and entered the Indian civil service. His sixth son, Alexander Forrester Inglis
Alexander Cochrane
Admiral Sir Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane GCB RN was a senior Royal Navy commander during the Napoleonic Wars.-Naval career:...
, was born in 1758, and entered 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...
. He rose to be admiral of the white, an MP, and a Knight Grand Cross 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...
.
His seventh son, George Augustus Frederick, was born in 1762. He joined the army, reaching the rank of colonel and was an MP. His eighth and youngest son, Andrew James, was born in 1767. He also served in the army, reaching the rank of brigadier
Brigadier (United Kingdom)
Brigadier is a senior rank in the British Army and the Royal Marines.Brigadier is the superior rank to Colonel, but subordinate to Major-General....
, sat as MP for several constituencies, and was 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 Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
. Less honourably, he was indicted for his role in the Great Stock Exchange Fraud of 1814
Great Stock Exchange Fraud of 1814
The Great Stock Exchange Fraud of 1814 was a hoax or fraud centered on false information about the then-ongoing Napoleonic Wars, affecting the London Stock Exchange in 1814.-The du Bourg hoax:...
, which also brought disgrace upon Andrew's nephew, the prominent naval officer Thomas Cochrane, Lord Cochrane
Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald
Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, 1st Marquess of Maranhão, GCB, ODM , styled Lord Cochrane between 1778 and 1831, was a senior British naval flag officer and radical politician....
.
Thomas Cochrane died on 31 October 1778 and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son Archibald, who became the 9th Earl of Dundonald.