John Cochran (military physician)

John Cochran (September 1, 1730 – April 6, 1807) was the 4th Surgeon General of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Cochran was born in Sadsbury, Pennsylvania, the son of Irish immigrants. He served as physician under Lieutenant-Colonel John Bradstreet during his march on Fort Frontenac in 1758. He was one of the founders of New Jersey Medical Society and served as its president in 1769.

On April 10, 1777, Cochran was made Physician & Surgeon General of the Middle Department of the Medical Department of the Continental Army. Subsequently, he became Physician and Surgeon General of the Continental Army and Director General of the Hospitals of the United States (January 17, 1781 to 1783). Because of the infighting and other troubles of his three predecessors as Surgeon General, he is considered by some military medical historians as the "best of the Revolutionary period chief physicians".

He was married to Gertrude Schuyler, the eldest daughter of Cornelia Van Cortlandt (1698–1762) and Johannes ("John") Schuyler, Jr. (1697–1741) and sister of Gen. Philip Schuyler (1733–1804). Gertrude had previously been married to Pieter P. Schuyler (1723–1813), her cousin and the grandson of Pieter Schuyler (1657–1724).

Cochran's descendants added a final e to the family name. His grandson was General John Cochrane.

The John Cochran Veterans Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo is named in his behalf.

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