Family and Education

b. 26 Nov. 1762, 7th surv. s. of Thomas Cochrane, 8th Earl of Dundonald [S], and bro. of Hons. Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane* and Andrew James Cochrane*. unm.

Offices Held

Ensign 73 Ft. 1783; lt. 77 Ft. 1787; capt. 78 Ft. 1793; maj. 10 Ft. 1799; lt.-col. 87 Ft. 1799, res. 1805.

Biography

Cochrane and his brother Andrew defeated the patron’s nominees at Grampound in 1807, only to be unseated for want of due property qualification in the following March. Their political affiliation was doubtful, but reputedly radical; and the Marquess of Buckingham believed they would vote with opposition.1 At the fresh election, Cochrane stood again with William Holmes. They were defeated, but obtained the seats on petition.

Cochrane never spoke in the House. It was probably he who, as ‘G. A. Johnstone’, voted, like his brother Andrew, for their nephew Lord Cochrane’s motion on 7 July 1807 and against the Irish insurrection bill, 13 Aug. On 25 Apr. 1809 he voted for the censure of ministerial corruption. He appeared in the opposition majority on the conduct of the Scheldt expedition on 5 Mar. 1810, but the Whigs were ‘doubtful’ of him and if they expected him to turn up again on 30 Mar. on the same question they were disappointed.2 He voted against Burdett’s committal to the Tower, 5 Apr., and for the discharge of John Gale Jones, 16 Apr. On 17 May he was in the opposition minority for sinecure reform. Hitherto, his line had been a shadow of his radical nephew Lord Cochrane’s: after 1810, despite repeated rumours of his vacating his seat,3 he supported the ministry. He was in their minority on the Regency, 1 Jan. 1811, against sinecure reform, 24 Feb. and 4 May 1812, and against a stronger government, 21 May. Shortly before the dissolution, he vacated his seat in favour of his brother Andrew. After that his life becomes obscure. He was still alive in 1832.4

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes

• 1. Fremantle mss, Buckingham to Fremantle [31 May 1807].
• 2. Blair Adam mss, Loch to Adam, 21 Mar. [1810].
• 3. See GRAMPOUND.
• 4. Gent. Mag. (1832), i. 270.