Thomas John Cochrane
Encyclopedia
Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Thomas John Cochrane GCB
(5 February 1789 – 19 October 1872) was an English naval officer and colonial
governor.
because of his father's influence. Cochrane commanded the HMS Surprise and the HMS Forte.
When Newfoundland became an official colony in 1825, Cochrane was appointed the first governor. Cochrane was responsible for the construction of Government House
, which is located between Fort William and Fort Townshend. Although Cochrane had opposed the introduction of representative government, a new constitution
was granted in 1832 and Cochrane became the first civil governor. Cochrane had many conflicts while governor, especially with the Roman Catholic bishop, Michael Fleming
. The colonial office recalled Cochrane in 1834; when he left he and his daughter were pelted with filth on their way down Cochrane Street to the wharf.
He was Member of Parliament
(MP) for Ipswich
from 1839 to 1841.
In 1842 he became Second in Command of the East Indies and China Station
before being appointed Commander-in-chief of that Station in his Flagship
, in 1844. He took part in anti-piracy operations around North West Borneo
, including destroying the forts at Brunei, in 1845 and 1846. Finally in 1852 he was made Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
. He was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet
in 1865.
Cochrane Street in St. John's
is so named for Thomas John Cochrane.
Was Married a second time to Lady Rosetta: born 1816 died 1901. He lived at Hanover Lodge, Regent's Park which had previously been owned by General Sir Robert Arbuthnot
KCB and was later owned by Admiral David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty
.
at Quarr Abbey house, Binstead, in October 1872 aged 83; he is buried in the family mausoleum at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.
In 1901 Sir Thomas' second wife, Rosetta, died on the Isle of Wight and her body was transported by hearse, boat and then train to Waterloo. There it was transferred to a horse drawn hearse and transported to Kensal Green Cemetery and interned in the mausoleum alongside her husband.
Present at her funeral was his son, Lieutenant Thomas Belhaven Henry, then deputy governor of the Isle of Wight and his two daughters, Minna (lady in waiting to Queen Victoria' youngest daughter Beatrice) and another daughter whose name unknown at this time.
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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....
Sir Thomas John Cochrane 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...
(5 February 1789 – 19 October 1872) was an English naval officer and colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
governor.
Naval career
Cochrane began his naval career in 1796 at the age of seven and was made lieutenant at the age of 16. His rise quickly in the ranks was considered by many to be blatant patronagePatronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
because of his father's influence. Cochrane commanded the HMS Surprise and the HMS Forte.
When Newfoundland became an official colony in 1825, Cochrane was appointed the first governor. Cochrane was responsible for the construction of Government House
Government House (Newfoundland and Labrador)
Government House is the official residence of the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. Government House was a by-product of the wave of administrative initiatives that took place during the 1820s. The royal charter of 1825 bestowed official colonial status for Newfoundland.The first...
, which is located between Fort William and Fort Townshend. Although Cochrane had opposed the introduction of representative government, a new constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
was granted in 1832 and Cochrane became the first civil governor. Cochrane had many conflicts while governor, especially with the Roman Catholic bishop, Michael Fleming
Michael Anthony Fleming
Michael Anthony Fleming was Catholic bishop of St. John's, Newfoundland. He was principally responsible for changing a small mission with several priests in four parishes into a large diocese with over 40,000 congregants and was the single most influential Irish immigrant to come to Newfoundland...
. The colonial office recalled Cochrane in 1834; when he left he and his daughter were pelted with filth on their way down Cochrane Street to the wharf.
He was 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,...
(MP) for Ipswich
Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)
Ipswich is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
from 1839 to 1841.
In 1842 he became Second in Command of the East Indies and China Station
East Indies and China Station
The East Indies and China Station was a formation of the British Royal Navy from 1831 to 1865.-History:The Station was formed in 1831; it ceased to exist when it was separated into the East Indies Station and the China Station in 1865. Its area covered the Indian Ocean and the coasts of China and...
before being appointed Commander-in-chief of that Station in his Flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
, in 1844. He took part in anti-piracy operations around North West Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, including destroying the forts at Brunei, in 1845 and 1846. Finally in 1852 he was made Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Portsmouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the post.-History:...
. He was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet
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...
in 1865.
Cochrane Street in St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
is so named for Thomas John Cochrane.
Family
In 1812 he married Mathilda Ross: they went on to have two sons and two daughters.Was Married a second time to Lady Rosetta: born 1816 died 1901. He lived at Hanover Lodge, Regent's Park which had previously been owned by General Sir Robert Arbuthnot
Robert Arbuthnot
General Sir Robert Arbuthnot, KCB, was born at Rockfleet Castle, County Mayo, Ireland, on 19 November 1773 fourth son of John Arbuthnot Senior of Rockfleet, Co Mayo. He was a General in the army, a colonel in the 76th Regiment. He was a Brigadier General in the Portuguese Service and was appointed...
KCB and was later owned by Admiral David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty
David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty
Admiral of the Fleet David Richard Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty, GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO was an admiral in the Royal Navy...
.
Death
Thomas John Cochrane died on the Isle of WightIsle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
at Quarr Abbey house, Binstead, in October 1872 aged 83; he is buried in the family mausoleum at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.
In 1901 Sir Thomas' second wife, Rosetta, died on the Isle of Wight and her body was transported by hearse, boat and then train to Waterloo. There it was transferred to a horse drawn hearse and transported to Kensal Green Cemetery and interned in the mausoleum alongside her husband.
Present at her funeral was his son, Lieutenant Thomas Belhaven Henry, then deputy governor of the Isle of Wight and his two daughters, Minna (lady in waiting to Queen Victoria' youngest daughter Beatrice) and another daughter whose name unknown at this time.
See also
- Governors of Newfoundland
- List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador
External links
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