Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald
| The Earl of Dundonald | |
|---|---|
Engraving of Lord Dundonald, based on a painting by James Ramsay (1866)
|
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| Nickname(s) | Le Loup des Mers |
| Born | 14 December 1775 Annsfield, near Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Died | 31 October 1860 (aged 84) Kensington, London, England |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Great Britain Republic of Chile Empire of Brazil Kingdom of Greece
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy Chilean Navy Imperial Navy Royal Greek Navy
|
| Years of service | 1793–1860 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | North America and West Indies Station |
| Battles/wars |
Napoleonic Wars Chilean War of Independence Peruvian War of Independence Brazilian War of Independence Greek War of Independence |
| Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Order of the Merit of Chile |
Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, Marquess of Maranhão, GCB, ODM (14 December 1775 – 31 October 1860), styled Lord Cochrane between 1778 and 1831, was a British naval flag officer of the Royal Navy and radical politician. He was a daring and successful captain of the Napoleonic Wars, leading Napoleon to nickname him Le Loup des Mers ('The Sea Wolf'). He was successful in virtually all his naval actions.
He was dismissed from the Royal Navy in 1814 following a controversial conviction for fraud on the Stock Exchange. He helped organise and lead the rebel navies of Chile and Brazil during their respective successful wars of independence through the 1820s. While in charge of the Chilean Navy, Cochrane also contributed to Peruvian Independence through the Freedom Expedition of Perú. He was also asked to help the Greek Navy but was prevented by events from having much impact.
In 1832, he was pardoned by the Crown and reinstated in the Royal Navy with the rank of Rear Admiral of the Blue. After several more promotions, he died in 1860 with the rank of Admiral of the Red, and the honorary title of Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom.
His life and exploits inspired the naval fiction of 19th- and 20th-century novelists, particularly the figures of C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower and Patrick O'Brian's protagonist Jack Aubrey.
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