George Bertram Cockburn
| George Bertram Cockburn | |
|---|---|
1911, Rheims.
|
|
| Born |
8 January 1872 Birkenhead, Cheshire, England |
| Died | 25 February 1931 (aged 59) Whitchurch, Hampshire, England |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Research Chemist Aviator |
| Known for | Aviation Pioneer |
George Bertram Cockburn OBE (8 January 1872 – 25 February 1931) was a research chemist who became an aviation pioneer. He represented Great Britain in the first international air race at Rheims and co-founded the first aerodrome for the army at Larkhill. He also trained the first four pilots of what was to become the Fleet Air Arm. During World War I he worked as a Government Inspector of Aeroplanes for the Royal Flying Corps at Farnborough and subsequently became Head of the Accidents Branch of the Department of the Controller-General of Civil Aviation at the Air Ministry.
Bertram Cockburn was the youngest child of George Cockburn, a Liverpool provisions merchant, and his second wife Katherine Jessie Stitt (née Bertram). Both his parents having previously been widowed, he had four older half siblings from his parents' first marriages – John Scott Cockburn, Ada Cockburn, Mary Cockburn and Katie Stitt. The family lived across the River Mersey at Lingdale Lodge, Shrewsbury Road in Oxton, Birkenhead. Several earlier generations of the Cockburn family had lived in Inveresk south east of Edinburgh. However, George Cockburn (Senior), who had travelled south to seek his fortune, had become sufficiently prosperous to be able to send both his sons to be educated at fee paying schools in Scotland. John, who became a Presbyterian minister, attended Edinburgh Academy then Glasgow University and George (Junior) was sent to Loretto School in Musselburgh from 1887 until 1892. In October 1892 Bertram Cockburn entered New College, Oxford to read Natural Sciences specialising in Chemistry. He graduated in 1895.
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