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Cochrane: The Real Master and Commander
From the bestselling author of Under the Black Flag, comes the definitive biography of the swashbuckling 19th century maritime hero upon whom Jack Aubrey and Horatio Hornblower are based.
Nicknamed le loup des mers ("the sea wolf") by Napoleon, Thomas Cochrane was one of the most daring and successful naval heroes of all time. In this fascinating account of Cochrane's life, David Cordingly, author of the bestselling Under the Black Flag and The Billy Ruffian , unearths startling new details about the real-life "Master and Commander," from his daring exploits against the French navy to his role in the liberation of Chile, Peru, and Brazil, and the shock exchange scandal that forced him out of England and almost ended his naval career. Drawing on previously unpublished papers, his own travels, wide reading, and the kind of original research that distinguished The Billy Ruffian , Cordingly tells the rip-roaring story of the archetypal Romantic hero who conquered the seas and, in the process, defined his era.
Nicknamed le loup des mers ("the sea wolf") by Napoleon, Thomas Cochrane was one of the most daring and successful naval heroes of all time. In this fascinating account of Cochrane's life, David Cordingly, author of the bestselling Under the Black Flag and The Billy Ruffian , unearths startling new details about the real-life "Master and Commander," from his daring exploits against the French navy to his role in the liberation of Chile, Peru, and Brazil, and the shock exchange scandal that forced him out of England and almost ended his naval career. Drawing on previously unpublished papers, his own travels, wide reading, and the kind of original research that distinguished The Billy Ruffian , Cordingly tells the rip-roaring story of the archetypal Romantic hero who conquered the seas and, in the process, defined his era.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2004
105 people are currently reading
1326 people want to read
About the author
David Cordingly
32 books104 followersDavid Cordingly is an English naval historian with a special interest in pirates. He held the position of Keeper of Pictures and Head of Exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England for twelve years.
David Cordingly organised several exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum, including Captain James Cook, Navigator and The Mutiny on the Bounty. One of these exhibitions was Pirates: Fact and Fiction, which became a critical and popular success, followed by a book of the same title, authored by Cordingly and John Falconer. Cordingly explored the subject further in his book Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates. This was followed by Heroines and Harlots: Women at Sea in the Great Age of Sail (published in the U.S. under the title Women Sailors and Sailors' Women: An Untold Maritime History), expanding on a subject Cordingly had touched upon in Under the Black Flag in a chapter entitled "Women Pirates and Pirates' Women".
In 2002, Cordingly wrote an introduction to the republication of Captain Charles Johnson's 1724 book A General History of the Pyrates.
The Billy Ruffian: His Majesty's Ship Bellerophon and the Downfall of Napoleon, published in 2003, was longlisted for the 2003 Wolfson History Prize. It tells the story of an English warship, HMS Bellerophon, which played an important part in many battles and held captive the defeated Napoleon following the Battle of Waterloo.
Cordingly appears on the Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl DVD bonus features in a section called "Below Deck", a virtual tour of a pirate ship. This consists of several documentary shorts, hosted by Cordingly, comparing piracy fact and fiction along the same lines as Under the Black Flag.
Cordingly resides with his wife and family in Brighton, Sussex.
David Cordingly organised several exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum, including Captain James Cook, Navigator and The Mutiny on the Bounty. One of these exhibitions was Pirates: Fact and Fiction, which became a critical and popular success, followed by a book of the same title, authored by Cordingly and John Falconer. Cordingly explored the subject further in his book Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates. This was followed by Heroines and Harlots: Women at Sea in the Great Age of Sail (published in the U.S. under the title Women Sailors and Sailors' Women: An Untold Maritime History), expanding on a subject Cordingly had touched upon in Under the Black Flag in a chapter entitled "Women Pirates and Pirates' Women".
In 2002, Cordingly wrote an introduction to the republication of Captain Charles Johnson's 1724 book A General History of the Pyrates.
The Billy Ruffian: His Majesty's Ship Bellerophon and the Downfall of Napoleon, published in 2003, was longlisted for the 2003 Wolfson History Prize. It tells the story of an English warship, HMS Bellerophon, which played an important part in many battles and held captive the defeated Napoleon following the Battle of Waterloo.
Cordingly appears on the Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl DVD bonus features in a section called "Below Deck", a virtual tour of a pirate ship. This consists of several documentary shorts, hosted by Cordingly, comparing piracy fact and fiction along the same lines as Under the Black Flag.
Cordingly resides with his wife and family in Brighton, Sussex.
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February 21, 2016
Le Loup des Mers deserves a better bio
I picked this book up on a whim, having recently become interested in the Napoleonic Wars but finding little else on the subject that I could check out from my county’s e-library. Furthermore, I have the first of Patrick O’Brian Aubrey–Maturin books on hold, so it seemed the perfect time to read about the man whom O’Brian’s stalwart fictional hero is modelled on, or as the subtitle tantalizes, “The Real Master and Commander.”
Alas, Cordingly is no O’Brian and from the first pages I found this book a bit of a slog, for multiple reasons. Before I say why, let me first commend the author for having thoroughly mined so many sources and having maintained such an even-handed and impartial attitude toward his subject. Cordingly abjures speculation and never permits himself to attribute to his subject any thoughts or motivations without well-documented proof. Furthermore, Cordingly is uniquely qualified to write this biography, having been Keeper of Pictures and Head of Exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England for twelve years, and he has also written well-received books on pirates, famous ships and sea battles, and other aspects of the Age of Sail. In describing any ship that Cochrane commanded, any battle he participated in, or just about any aspect of sea life, Cordingly is in his element.
But, especially given the “stranger than fiction” life of Cochrane, it perplexed me that Cordingly could not have displayed a bit of verve and imagination himself in writing the biography. Dutifully it plods along in strictly linear fashion, recounting what Cochrane did when, how many men he had under his command, how many pounds of fresh beef were loaded into the hold before departing on a voyage, and so on. It wasn’t so much the detail that was the problem – it was the lack of appreciation for where and when to best give details, or, really, any notion of how to pace or place them.
On the very first page after the prologue, which common sense alone informs us should strive to engage the reader, Cordingly begins with a long, discursive description of Cochrane’s ancestral home, Culross Abbey – and not just in the time of Cochrane, but well beyond. Cordingly informs the reader that “in the nineteenth century the house fell into disrepair. It was partly dismantled in 1830 and was rebuilt on a smaller scale with two floors and without the flanking towers.” Hmmmm…. I have to say that this opening salvo fell short, if I may indulge in a military metaphor.
Oddly enough, in an article I ran across online from The Telegraph, Cordingly states that “The father’s [Cochrane’s] rash investments in schemes to make coal tar bankrupted him and forced him to sell Culross Abbey House, an event that made an indelible mark on the young Cochrane and sparked his determination to earn his own fortune and buy back his ancestral home.” This idea was not, that I can recall or find, ever mentioned in the book, however, which faintly astonishes me as it would have made Cochrane’s peculiar obsession with and perpetual wrangling over money more understandable.
Indeed, I was frequently perplexed and confounded in trying to understand what motivated Cochrane, and as the author never permitted himself to speculate what drove his subject, I felt somewhat cast adrift in the relentless sea of Cochrane’s life. The man was a parcel of contradictions: mild mannered but rash, calculating but impulsive, before his time in many ways but incredibly short-sighted in others, noble yet venal, and altogether so full of ambitions and myriad schemes that it practically takes one’s breath away. He had to have been one of the most singular men in an age of very singular men viz Napoleon, Wellington, and Nelson. But, like Napoleon, Cochrane seems to be a damned hard man to come to grips with, inspiring both adulation and condemnation. Given all that, I heartily sympathize with any of his biographers.
Even in his own time, Cochrane left people shaking their heads. Briefly, after a brilliant early naval career, renowned for its daring and strategic genius, as well as a less successful career as a Member of Parliament, Cochrane was found guilty of participating in stock market fraud engineered by a ne’er-do-well uncle and another disreputable man. It is still not clear how culpable Cochrane was in the scheme, and he may well have been an unwitting dupe, but after a rushed and prejudiced trial, he was found guilty and stripped of all naval honors, his naval rank, and his seat in Parliament, as well as incurring a substantial fine. This was the central hinge of Cochrane’s life, embarking him ever afterwards on a personal crusade to have the ruling overturned and his honor restored.
After a long interlude in which Cochrane offered his services to the revolutionary navies of Chile and Brazil, as well as being in command of the struggling Greek navy during its war of independence from the Turks, Cochrane returned to his native land and was ultimately rehabilitated, or should I say was promoted, to the rank of Rear Admiral. However, it was obvious to all the naval authorities that Cochrane, though still brilliant, was on the whole someone who should be treated with great caution. Cordingly notes that, “At one stage the Admiralty seriously considered appointing Cochrane as commander-in-chief of the Baltic fleet, but he was seventy-nine and it was decided that ‘though his energies and faculties are unbroken, and though, with his accustomed courage, he volunteers for the Service, yet, on the whole, there is reason to apprehend that he might deeply commit the Force under his command in some desperate enterprise, where the chance of success would not countervail the risk of failure and of the fatal consequences, which might ensue.’”
As I made liberal use of the highlighting and note features on the ebook as I read, in looking back over the notes a clear theme emerges: “Classic go-it-alone heroism,” “Rash actions by C – nothing new!”, “Again, his rash defiance,” “More pettiness,” “More feuds and paranoia,” “Once again, impatience and inability to work with others or accept commands,” “Odd combination of patience and impetuousness,” “More rashness,” “More greed,” “More use of deception and bold lies,” “Rash but heroic.” The word that rose again and again to mind was, “rash.” Among his many exploits, Cochrane escaped from prison, attempted to use explosives – twice – to booby-trap houses he and friends were in rather than be arrested, made frequent use of false flags and signals to deceive the enemy, and was one of the foremost proponents of using fire ships and rockets to attack enemy ships anchored in port.
Almost as strikingly, when Cochrane disagreed with or was reprimanded by his superiors, he often used disrespectful and intemperate language, bordering on the insubordinate. He quick to take umbrage at even the hint of a slight (at times seeming to border on paranoia), and it was evident that on his ships he felt quite justified in doing what he thought best, at times going directly against orders. Only his repeated naval successes and his not-yet-inherited title seemed to keep him from an earlier downfall. As it was, Cochrane, his kinsmen, and his friends with influence perpetually badgered the Admiralty for his promotion, more prize money, and more desirable commands. He was, in a word, relentless.
It occurred to me toward the end of the book that the author’s cautious approach to his subject may have been precisely because so much of Cochrane’s life was sensational. Downplaying sensation is almost an automatic response in serious scholars, but given that this book is aimed at a popular audience, the effect is rather wooden. In addition, there are some aspects of Cochrane’s life that baffled me but that Cordingly never pays the slightest attention to.
How was it possible, for example, for a naval captain to simultaneously be a Member of Parliament? I would have thought that prolonged absences at sea would have prohibited a parliamentary career, yet apparently this was not the case. In order to better understand this phenomenon, I sought out a website on the history of Parliament, and found the rather extensive material there on Cochrane’s parliamentary (vs. naval) career to be illuminating. It seems that Cochrane did encounter problems in Parliament because of his absences while on naval duty, and, conversely, his long leaves of absence from the Navy in order to be present during parliamentary sessions also did not go unnoticed by his superiors. When he stood for election in 1812, for example, he was only allowed to stand “with the proviso that he should pledge himself to resign if he was sent abroad on active service.” Cordingly’s ignoring the question of how Cochrane could both be a sea captain and an MP struck me as odd, though the tension between these two roles certainly goes some way toward explaining why Cochrane’s political career had so little success.
Elsewhere in the book Cordingly provides background material on political and cultural events of Cochrane’s time, but this material is often launched with little grace in abrupt segues that made the material less comprehensible. This produced a choppy effect and made me long for a more sophisticated handling of the material.
Ultimately, I persevered in finishing the book as Cochrane simply fascinated me. The latter chapters of the book, dealing with his foreign service, seemed to me to be a bit rushed in comparison with his earlier exploits, especially as I’d recently read a biography of Alexander von Humboldt that offered a different (and better written) perspective on the revolutions in South America. The final chapter, which offers at long last the author’s final assessment of his subject, that Cochrane was primarily motivated by “the natural desire of an innocent to clear the stain on his character and on the Dundonald family name,” was characteristically understated and even handed. I only wished that he’d given more weight throughout the book to Cochrane’s motivations and less to the tonnage of his many naval prizes.
I picked this book up on a whim, having recently become interested in the Napoleonic Wars but finding little else on the subject that I could check out from my county’s e-library. Furthermore, I have the first of Patrick O’Brian Aubrey–Maturin books on hold, so it seemed the perfect time to read about the man whom O’Brian’s stalwart fictional hero is modelled on, or as the subtitle tantalizes, “The Real Master and Commander.”
Alas, Cordingly is no O’Brian and from the first pages I found this book a bit of a slog, for multiple reasons. Before I say why, let me first commend the author for having thoroughly mined so many sources and having maintained such an even-handed and impartial attitude toward his subject. Cordingly abjures speculation and never permits himself to attribute to his subject any thoughts or motivations without well-documented proof. Furthermore, Cordingly is uniquely qualified to write this biography, having been Keeper of Pictures and Head of Exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England for twelve years, and he has also written well-received books on pirates, famous ships and sea battles, and other aspects of the Age of Sail. In describing any ship that Cochrane commanded, any battle he participated in, or just about any aspect of sea life, Cordingly is in his element.
But, especially given the “stranger than fiction” life of Cochrane, it perplexed me that Cordingly could not have displayed a bit of verve and imagination himself in writing the biography. Dutifully it plods along in strictly linear fashion, recounting what Cochrane did when, how many men he had under his command, how many pounds of fresh beef were loaded into the hold before departing on a voyage, and so on. It wasn’t so much the detail that was the problem – it was the lack of appreciation for where and when to best give details, or, really, any notion of how to pace or place them.
On the very first page after the prologue, which common sense alone informs us should strive to engage the reader, Cordingly begins with a long, discursive description of Cochrane’s ancestral home, Culross Abbey – and not just in the time of Cochrane, but well beyond. Cordingly informs the reader that “in the nineteenth century the house fell into disrepair. It was partly dismantled in 1830 and was rebuilt on a smaller scale with two floors and without the flanking towers.” Hmmmm…. I have to say that this opening salvo fell short, if I may indulge in a military metaphor.
Oddly enough, in an article I ran across online from The Telegraph, Cordingly states that “The father’s [Cochrane’s] rash investments in schemes to make coal tar bankrupted him and forced him to sell Culross Abbey House, an event that made an indelible mark on the young Cochrane and sparked his determination to earn his own fortune and buy back his ancestral home.” This idea was not, that I can recall or find, ever mentioned in the book, however, which faintly astonishes me as it would have made Cochrane’s peculiar obsession with and perpetual wrangling over money more understandable.
Indeed, I was frequently perplexed and confounded in trying to understand what motivated Cochrane, and as the author never permitted himself to speculate what drove his subject, I felt somewhat cast adrift in the relentless sea of Cochrane’s life. The man was a parcel of contradictions: mild mannered but rash, calculating but impulsive, before his time in many ways but incredibly short-sighted in others, noble yet venal, and altogether so full of ambitions and myriad schemes that it practically takes one’s breath away. He had to have been one of the most singular men in an age of very singular men viz Napoleon, Wellington, and Nelson. But, like Napoleon, Cochrane seems to be a damned hard man to come to grips with, inspiring both adulation and condemnation. Given all that, I heartily sympathize with any of his biographers.
Even in his own time, Cochrane left people shaking their heads. Briefly, after a brilliant early naval career, renowned for its daring and strategic genius, as well as a less successful career as a Member of Parliament, Cochrane was found guilty of participating in stock market fraud engineered by a ne’er-do-well uncle and another disreputable man. It is still not clear how culpable Cochrane was in the scheme, and he may well have been an unwitting dupe, but after a rushed and prejudiced trial, he was found guilty and stripped of all naval honors, his naval rank, and his seat in Parliament, as well as incurring a substantial fine. This was the central hinge of Cochrane’s life, embarking him ever afterwards on a personal crusade to have the ruling overturned and his honor restored.
After a long interlude in which Cochrane offered his services to the revolutionary navies of Chile and Brazil, as well as being in command of the struggling Greek navy during its war of independence from the Turks, Cochrane returned to his native land and was ultimately rehabilitated, or should I say was promoted, to the rank of Rear Admiral. However, it was obvious to all the naval authorities that Cochrane, though still brilliant, was on the whole someone who should be treated with great caution. Cordingly notes that, “At one stage the Admiralty seriously considered appointing Cochrane as commander-in-chief of the Baltic fleet, but he was seventy-nine and it was decided that ‘though his energies and faculties are unbroken, and though, with his accustomed courage, he volunteers for the Service, yet, on the whole, there is reason to apprehend that he might deeply commit the Force under his command in some desperate enterprise, where the chance of success would not countervail the risk of failure and of the fatal consequences, which might ensue.’”
As I made liberal use of the highlighting and note features on the ebook as I read, in looking back over the notes a clear theme emerges: “Classic go-it-alone heroism,” “Rash actions by C – nothing new!”, “Again, his rash defiance,” “More pettiness,” “More feuds and paranoia,” “Once again, impatience and inability to work with others or accept commands,” “Odd combination of patience and impetuousness,” “More rashness,” “More greed,” “More use of deception and bold lies,” “Rash but heroic.” The word that rose again and again to mind was, “rash.” Among his many exploits, Cochrane escaped from prison, attempted to use explosives – twice – to booby-trap houses he and friends were in rather than be arrested, made frequent use of false flags and signals to deceive the enemy, and was one of the foremost proponents of using fire ships and rockets to attack enemy ships anchored in port.
Almost as strikingly, when Cochrane disagreed with or was reprimanded by his superiors, he often used disrespectful and intemperate language, bordering on the insubordinate. He quick to take umbrage at even the hint of a slight (at times seeming to border on paranoia), and it was evident that on his ships he felt quite justified in doing what he thought best, at times going directly against orders. Only his repeated naval successes and his not-yet-inherited title seemed to keep him from an earlier downfall. As it was, Cochrane, his kinsmen, and his friends with influence perpetually badgered the Admiralty for his promotion, more prize money, and more desirable commands. He was, in a word, relentless.
It occurred to me toward the end of the book that the author’s cautious approach to his subject may have been precisely because so much of Cochrane’s life was sensational. Downplaying sensation is almost an automatic response in serious scholars, but given that this book is aimed at a popular audience, the effect is rather wooden. In addition, there are some aspects of Cochrane’s life that baffled me but that Cordingly never pays the slightest attention to.
How was it possible, for example, for a naval captain to simultaneously be a Member of Parliament? I would have thought that prolonged absences at sea would have prohibited a parliamentary career, yet apparently this was not the case. In order to better understand this phenomenon, I sought out a website on the history of Parliament, and found the rather extensive material there on Cochrane’s parliamentary (vs. naval) career to be illuminating. It seems that Cochrane did encounter problems in Parliament because of his absences while on naval duty, and, conversely, his long leaves of absence from the Navy in order to be present during parliamentary sessions also did not go unnoticed by his superiors. When he stood for election in 1812, for example, he was only allowed to stand “with the proviso that he should pledge himself to resign if he was sent abroad on active service.” Cordingly’s ignoring the question of how Cochrane could both be a sea captain and an MP struck me as odd, though the tension between these two roles certainly goes some way toward explaining why Cochrane’s political career had so little success.
Elsewhere in the book Cordingly provides background material on political and cultural events of Cochrane’s time, but this material is often launched with little grace in abrupt segues that made the material less comprehensible. This produced a choppy effect and made me long for a more sophisticated handling of the material.
Ultimately, I persevered in finishing the book as Cochrane simply fascinated me. The latter chapters of the book, dealing with his foreign service, seemed to me to be a bit rushed in comparison with his earlier exploits, especially as I’d recently read a biography of Alexander von Humboldt that offered a different (and better written) perspective on the revolutions in South America. The final chapter, which offers at long last the author’s final assessment of his subject, that Cochrane was primarily motivated by “the natural desire of an innocent to clear the stain on his character and on the Dundonald family name,” was characteristically understated and even handed. I only wished that he’d given more weight throughout the book to Cochrane’s motivations and less to the tonnage of his many naval prizes.
June 28, 2024
What an incredible naval career! If his worst enemy wasn't himself, his name would be up there with Nelson!
Cordingly put together a highly readable account of the man's life. It was a life with dramatic twists and turns, and he captured them all in a highly readable prose and with great pacing.
I read this mainly because I'm a huge fan of Patrick O'Brian's Master & Commander seafaring series, because it was said that O'Brian modeled his hero after Cochrane. Well, after reading this, I can say he didn't model him, he Xeroxed him. Why wouldn't you? The drama and intrigue is all laid out for you. The way in which O'Brian then expanded upon Cochrane's life is what makes the series a masterpiece.
Cordingly put together a highly readable account of the man's life. It was a life with dramatic twists and turns, and he captured them all in a highly readable prose and with great pacing.
I read this mainly because I'm a huge fan of Patrick O'Brian's Master & Commander seafaring series, because it was said that O'Brian modeled his hero after Cochrane. Well, after reading this, I can say he didn't model him, he Xeroxed him. Why wouldn't you? The drama and intrigue is all laid out for you. The way in which O'Brian then expanded upon Cochrane's life is what makes the series a masterpiece.
April 5, 2013
A biography of a naval figure overshadowed by better known contemporaries such as Nelson and Collingwood, at least here in the UK, but who was reputedly one of the inspirations for Hornblower and Aubrey. It reads as well as a Hornblower story and reveals a complex character who was both bold in battle and unusually careful for the lives of those under his command, despite a seemingly haughty demeanour. He was also somewhat paranoid (though perhaps with some cause) and had an obsession with money, both of which attributed to him not reaching what seemed to be his early potential. The book offers a perceptive insight into, not only the complexities of the Royal Navy at the time, but also British parliamentary politics, given that Cochrane was, for a short time an MP and an outspoken advocate for reform. In this and in some scientific and technical areas that he explored both during and after his naval career, he was a man in ahead of his time. An excellent, balanced biography of an extremely interesting man... though one with whom it may have been difficult to live with... as would seem to be attested by his familial relationships.
August 10, 2024
You would think that a movie or show would have been made based from this biography! Forget Hornblower and Aubrey (Master and Commander), Cochrane’s the real genuine article of an aspiring, ambitious and gutsy naval officer during the age of sail. A must read for those who are fans of this genre of history.
February 3, 2025
David Cordingly's "Cochrane: The Real Master and Commander" bios the life of one of Britain's many outstanding naval officers. Often overlooked, Cochrane was certainly more important than history seems to believe. His nerve, aggression, and tactical sensibilities (when it came to naval matters, anyway) set him apart from his peers.
Probably the most interesting part of Cochrane's story is his time in South America. After being dismissed from the Royal Navy for being a part of conspiracy to defraud the stock market (a charge most historians do not believe) he was at loose ends and accepted an offer from the revolutionary government of Chile to become their chief naval officer.
This lead to his active and critical participation in the liberation of Chile from Spain. This was followed closely by Cochrane leaving Chile for Peru and repeat performance becoming a critical part of Peru's successful revolution for independence from Spain. Cochrane then left Peru to repeat his success again. This time he headed the Navy of Brazil in their independence revolution against Portugal. Cochrane played a critical and necessary role in all three revolutions.
Cochrane was a man of his times. This was an era when wealthy British gentlemen spent a lot of their time and wealth perusing the Enlightenment goals of increasing humankind's general knowledge of the natural world. Cochrane, a natural born engineer, spent his time and much of his fortune developing a rotary steam engine. But despite some interest from the Royal Navy, he was never able to capitalize on his inventions. He did acquire a number of patents and many of his improvements were adopted by the steam engine manufacturers of the time.
He was a flawed person however. Given to paranoia he often publicly accused his superior officers of cheating him and conspiring against him. This left him vulnerable to political attack and their was plenty of that. An outspoken radical he managed to get elected to Parliament and was often found standing for the rights of sailors and officers of the Navy whom he felt were being cheated.
Cordingly's bio is immensely readable. There is a perfect balance between his public/naval/private life. We get a very complete picture of a very complicated person mostly during times of his active service in naval conflicts. I don't read too many bios but I really enjoyed this one.
Probably the most interesting part of Cochrane's story is his time in South America. After being dismissed from the Royal Navy for being a part of conspiracy to defraud the stock market (a charge most historians do not believe) he was at loose ends and accepted an offer from the revolutionary government of Chile to become their chief naval officer.
This lead to his active and critical participation in the liberation of Chile from Spain. This was followed closely by Cochrane leaving Chile for Peru and repeat performance becoming a critical part of Peru's successful revolution for independence from Spain. Cochrane then left Peru to repeat his success again. This time he headed the Navy of Brazil in their independence revolution against Portugal. Cochrane played a critical and necessary role in all three revolutions.
Cochrane was a man of his times. This was an era when wealthy British gentlemen spent a lot of their time and wealth perusing the Enlightenment goals of increasing humankind's general knowledge of the natural world. Cochrane, a natural born engineer, spent his time and much of his fortune developing a rotary steam engine. But despite some interest from the Royal Navy, he was never able to capitalize on his inventions. He did acquire a number of patents and many of his improvements were adopted by the steam engine manufacturers of the time.
He was a flawed person however. Given to paranoia he often publicly accused his superior officers of cheating him and conspiring against him. This left him vulnerable to political attack and their was plenty of that. An outspoken radical he managed to get elected to Parliament and was often found standing for the rights of sailors and officers of the Navy whom he felt were being cheated.
Cordingly's bio is immensely readable. There is a perfect balance between his public/naval/private life. We get a very complete picture of a very complicated person mostly during times of his active service in naval conflicts. I don't read too many bios but I really enjoyed this one.
March 21, 2019
Le Loup des Mers.
Otherwise known as Napoleon's nightmare, the liberator of South America, the radical politician and 10th Earl of Dundonald, and part-time inventor Thomas Cochrane.
Just your regular everyday Joe, right.
By the age of 27 Cochrane had already been the commander of several battle and reconnaissance vessels of varying sizes, participating in dozens - the vast majority of which victorious - skirmishes with Spanish and French ships, embarking on a multitude of coastal raids and proving to be an ingenious, daring and, ahem, dauntless man of action in the sea, all the whilst being an MP for Westminster and practicing the craft of the inventor.
Without any formal education.
Not bad huh.
One's gotta ask themselves - what am I doing with my life? What was my excuse again?
Joke aside, you'd say, 'those were the times, calling for men of merit and action!' And I won't be the one to prove you wrong - merit actually counted for something back then.
It's a simple equation:
A good captain + good results = being given command of a better ship
A good ship + an able and fearless captain = opportunities to hire better crew
An able and fearless captain + great crew = better results = a better ship = better crew and so on and on and on...
You get the picture.
But it all relies on one thing: merit. If you're good at a job - you succeed. If you're not - less so.
Thomas Cochrane knew that, was fearless enough to grasp every opportunity to showcase his supreme seamanship, and the results naturally followed.
And talking of results, Lord Cochrane's were spectacular, truly worth being envied, as Cordingly gently reminds us of Lord Byron's words: "There is no man I envy so much as Lord Cochrane."
The description of Cochrane's exploits in Cordingly's biographical book reads almost like fiction. The flow is smooth, Cochrane's character is ostensibly felt through the words, and the action is enticing and intriguing - be it a description of the horror that he brought the Spanish and French navies and armies, or his successful campaigns against the Portuguese and the Spanish in South America. The book manages to give a detailed outline of pretty much every known aspect of the Sea Wolf's life, adventures, service and personae, while proving a more accessible and enjoyable read than the usual almost-academic style that is normal for the genre and similar books.
It's a shame that a man who achieved so much in a lifetime is all but forgotten outside the maritime community and naval history aficionados. But it's also something that should be grasped and celebrated as a high point of national pride - that a country managed to have golden generations of hundreds of meritorious people who changed not only the history of their nation, people and families, but also - as in Cochrane's case - helped others in their struggles for liberation and rescue from oppression.
So many heroes that naturally some will be forgotten, but not by all: in Valparaiso, Chile, Lord Cochrane's statue stands proudly erect.
Otherwise known as Napoleon's nightmare, the liberator of South America, the radical politician and 10th Earl of Dundonald, and part-time inventor Thomas Cochrane.
Just your regular everyday Joe, right.
By the age of 27 Cochrane had already been the commander of several battle and reconnaissance vessels of varying sizes, participating in dozens - the vast majority of which victorious - skirmishes with Spanish and French ships, embarking on a multitude of coastal raids and proving to be an ingenious, daring and, ahem, dauntless man of action in the sea, all the whilst being an MP for Westminster and practicing the craft of the inventor.
Without any formal education.
Not bad huh.
One's gotta ask themselves - what am I doing with my life? What was my excuse again?
Joke aside, you'd say, 'those were the times, calling for men of merit and action!' And I won't be the one to prove you wrong - merit actually counted for something back then.
It's a simple equation:
A good captain + good results = being given command of a better ship
A good ship + an able and fearless captain = opportunities to hire better crew
An able and fearless captain + great crew = better results = a better ship = better crew and so on and on and on...
You get the picture.
But it all relies on one thing: merit. If you're good at a job - you succeed. If you're not - less so.
Thomas Cochrane knew that, was fearless enough to grasp every opportunity to showcase his supreme seamanship, and the results naturally followed.
And talking of results, Lord Cochrane's were spectacular, truly worth being envied, as Cordingly gently reminds us of Lord Byron's words: "There is no man I envy so much as Lord Cochrane."
The description of Cochrane's exploits in Cordingly's biographical book reads almost like fiction. The flow is smooth, Cochrane's character is ostensibly felt through the words, and the action is enticing and intriguing - be it a description of the horror that he brought the Spanish and French navies and armies, or his successful campaigns against the Portuguese and the Spanish in South America. The book manages to give a detailed outline of pretty much every known aspect of the Sea Wolf's life, adventures, service and personae, while proving a more accessible and enjoyable read than the usual almost-academic style that is normal for the genre and similar books.
It's a shame that a man who achieved so much in a lifetime is all but forgotten outside the maritime community and naval history aficionados. But it's also something that should be grasped and celebrated as a high point of national pride - that a country managed to have golden generations of hundreds of meritorious people who changed not only the history of their nation, people and families, but also - as in Cochrane's case - helped others in their struggles for liberation and rescue from oppression.
So many heroes that naturally some will be forgotten, but not by all: in Valparaiso, Chile, Lord Cochrane's statue stands proudly erect.
January 15, 2014
An interesting and well-written exploration of a relatively unknown figure, who nevertheless took part in or witnessed some major events of the 19th century. Cordingly, well-known for writing about pirates, reveals a polarising naval officer whose pride and unpopular political beliefs led him from command of his own ship and a position in Westminster to financial ruin and self-imposed exile in South America. The author carefully avoids taking sides in some of the more controversial elements of Cochrane's story, while presenting the sea battles and political manoeuvering with skill and vigor.
April 28, 2019
Outstanding book, read it.
October 29, 2008
As per usual, just copypasta from what I wrote in my LJ when I was reading it. Why yes, I am a Patrick O'Brian fan, why do you ask?
____
I'm trying to figure out just how much Jack and Cochrane's pre-commander careers overlapped. Both were lieutenants on the Resolution! The Reso, the good old Reso. Only for Jack it was at least his second time aboard her. And I love the little anecdote about the first lieutenant sawing his sea chest in half because it was too big to fit. AHAHA. Pwned.
_____
Cochrane meets Nelson. From the Cochrane biography:
"It was never my good fortune to serve under his Lordship, either at that or any subsequent period. During our stay at Palermo, I had, however, opportunities of personal conversation with him, and from one of his frequent injuctions, 'Never mind the manoeuvres, always go at them,' I subsequently had reason to consider myself indebted for successful attacks under apparently difficult circumstances. The impression left on my mind during these opportunities of association with Nelson was that of his being an embodiment of dashing courage, which would not take much trouble to circumvent an enemy, but being confronted with one would regard victory so much a matter or course as hardly to deem the chance of defeat worth consideration."
HEEE!!
Also, Jahleel Brenton? I don't know much about him so far but what I know, I like.
__________
I really need to start writing up quotes from the Cochrane biography. There is so much love in it.
Also, a recruiting poster for his 36-gun frigate Pallas, proudly proclaiming that she was "built on purpose". I would love to see them build a ship by accident.
"I was just putting up a garden shed! I swear! It just turned into a frigate on its own!"
His short stint in the Arab is just too freaking funny for words. Not for him obviously, but for me reading it.
Cochrane: "Lord Vincent, I demand a ship!"
Jarvie: "Demand? You little whippersnapper, I'll teach you!"
Arab: "I can has captin nao?"
Cochrane: "That tub!?!"
Jarvie: "Enjoy!"
Cochrane: "Damn the Admiralty!"
Arab: *collides with the Bloodhound*
Cochrane: *cusses*
Arab: *collides with the Abundance*
Cochrane: *mortified*
Inshore raids: *fail*
Cochrane: *fails*
Jarvie: *smug*
And of course the entire Speedy thing is Jack's Sophie down to the smallest particulars.
My favourite bit was this from Guthrie, Cochrane's particular friend and surgeon on all of his ships from the Speedy onward. (Ehehe.) The Spanish were on a lookout for the Speedy so Cochrane puts on his stealthy-scraper and pretends to be a neutral Danish ship just coming from Algiers, where the plague was raging.
"The Speedy was from Mahon and had not been at Algiers during the time I belonged to her - I was on deck and heard Lord Cochrane dictate to the quarter master what to say and as no one in the brig for the time being could speak or understand any language except Danish and the Spaniard had only a seaman who had been several voyages to the Baltic who understood a few words of Danish, but the word quarantine being nearly the same in different languages, on its being mentioned the Spanish officer exclaimed, oh! oh! quarantina, quarantina, and desired his boat to keep off - it was dark by this time, so we escaped."
Hee!
ETA: 'That night, according to Cochrane's account, he lowered a ballasted cask overboard with a lantern in the expectation that the French ships would follow the floating light rather than the Pallas. "The trick was successful... we saw nothing of them, and were all much relieved on finding our dollars and His Majesty's ship once more in satefy."'
Hee!
This also reminded me of Jack:
"On 21 January, the same day that the Mayor of Plymouth issued a warrant for Cochrane's arrest, the Pallas weighed anchor and made sail."
I bet Cochrane never left his ship those last couple of days either.
_____
The Cochrane biography continues to be loads of fun. He's just so... crafty. No wonder all the naval writers chose him as a subject.
I was just now reading up on Thomas Cochrane's baby brother, who apparently was an explorer and a captain in his own right. There's stuff about him here, if you scroll down.
But if I have to be very honest? The reason why I'm amused? His name.
John Dundas Cochrane.
XD
_____
Let me tell you what happened at the Battle of the Basque Roads.
This may be slightly off. I don't care.
Three Years Ago
Lord Cochrane: The French are weak. The race of grenouilles is failing! We should burn them with ships!
Admiralty: We'll keep that in mind.
1809
Admiralty: Remember what you said about burning the French?
Cochrane: Um.
Admiralty: Well, you get to do it! YAY! You personally.
Cochrane: Uh, great, but I don't want to go. I'm all battled out. Tired. Nearly had my nose shot off. Also not interested in kicking any superior shins atm.
Admiralty: Nonsense, you're a great shin-kicker. Off you go.
Cochrane: Dammit.
Gambier: Holy Dog, praise Jeebus, look who's come to join the fleet! Welcome.
Cochrane: Um. Hi.
Harvey: WHAT?! That twerp gets to go and I, a vice-admiral who has been at Trafalgar, gets passed over?!
Gambier: Seems so.
Cochrane: Sorry?
Harvey: *three page rant about how many different shades of crap Admiral Gambier is*
Officers within earshot: O___O
Crew within earshot: O____O
Gambier: Right. You, me, courtmartial,now in a few months.
Cochrane: Right, let's blow up these froggies!
Froggies: *fail to be blown up but are run aground and are pretty much stuck for as long as the tide doesn't set in. It's all very exciting and dramatic*
Cochrane: WHOO! They're vulnerable! Let's go finish the job.
Gambier: Um, no, let's just dawdle and waste time.
Cochrane: But, but! Come onnnn--
Gambier: Uhhh... no.
Cochrane: Oh, oh, what's happening? I seem to be completely randomly drifting in the general direction of the French. How odd.Ehehehe.
Gambier: *oblivious*
Cochrane: Take that, Frenchie, and that! And this! And that!
Gambier: Ack! Idiot!
Cochrane: Hey, Gamby! They're too many for little old me, but if you bring in the fleet we can take them easy!
Gambier: But I am le frightened.
Cochrane: Dude! Send me the fleet! NOW!
Gambier: Ehhh...
Cochrane: Alright, you bastard. *signals I AM IN DISTRESS, PLEASE HELP, YOU FIGWIT*
Gambier: Dammit, I have no option now. Fleet! To the rescue!
Fleet: Tadatada tadaaa! Chaaaaarge!
So some of the French ships are burned, others are hopelessly aground... I think a few might have escaped? Not sure.
ANYWAY...
Gambier: Fleet! Retreat!
Cochrane: I choose to ignore that order. I have a higher authority, you wimp.
Gambier: *sends letter* "Lord Cochrane, you have permission to do what you want but I tell you it will definitely fail."
Cochrane: *replies* "Admiral G, I will succeed."
Gambier: Alright, you whippersnapper, back to me, I'm sending you off to Blighty.
Cochrane: But I was just to attack the last couple of Frenchies! Sure of victory and everything!
Gambier: Not anymore, you ain't.
Cochrane: Dammit.
England: YAY LORD COCHRANE!
Cochrane: YAY ME!
England: YAY VICTORY!
Cochrane: Yay indeed!
England: YAY GAMBIER!
Cochrane: Excuse me?
Harvey: Gambier is an uber-religious idiot who would rather muster his crew than kill a Frenchie.
Admiralty: Alright, no more Navy for you. You're out of the club.
Harvey: And damn the rest of you, too.
Cochrane: Gambier is a coward who waited for four hours before he would act and even then I had to cheat.
Gambier: What? I won't be so insulted! I demand a court-martial!
President of C-M: Hi, I am a good friend of Gambier's!
Second most senior officer: Hi, I served with Gambier for six years!
Cochrane: Well... dammit.
And that's where I'm at now. Cocky isn't making himself any friends here...
Man, I love this book.
____
I'm trying to figure out just how much Jack and Cochrane's pre-commander careers overlapped. Both were lieutenants on the Resolution! The Reso, the good old Reso. Only for Jack it was at least his second time aboard her. And I love the little anecdote about the first lieutenant sawing his sea chest in half because it was too big to fit. AHAHA. Pwned.
_____
Cochrane meets Nelson. From the Cochrane biography:
"It was never my good fortune to serve under his Lordship, either at that or any subsequent period. During our stay at Palermo, I had, however, opportunities of personal conversation with him, and from one of his frequent injuctions, 'Never mind the manoeuvres, always go at them,' I subsequently had reason to consider myself indebted for successful attacks under apparently difficult circumstances. The impression left on my mind during these opportunities of association with Nelson was that of his being an embodiment of dashing courage, which would not take much trouble to circumvent an enemy, but being confronted with one would regard victory so much a matter or course as hardly to deem the chance of defeat worth consideration."
HEEE!!
Also, Jahleel Brenton? I don't know much about him so far but what I know, I like.
__________
I really need to start writing up quotes from the Cochrane biography. There is so much love in it.
Also, a recruiting poster for his 36-gun frigate Pallas, proudly proclaiming that she was "built on purpose". I would love to see them build a ship by accident.
"I was just putting up a garden shed! I swear! It just turned into a frigate on its own!"
His short stint in the Arab is just too freaking funny for words. Not for him obviously, but for me reading it.
Cochrane: "Lord Vincent, I demand a ship!"
Jarvie: "Demand? You little whippersnapper, I'll teach you!"
Arab: "I can has captin nao?"
Cochrane: "That tub!?!"
Jarvie: "Enjoy!"
Cochrane: "Damn the Admiralty!"
Arab: *collides with the Bloodhound*
Cochrane: *cusses*
Arab: *collides with the Abundance*
Cochrane: *mortified*
Inshore raids: *fail*
Cochrane: *fails*
Jarvie: *smug*
And of course the entire Speedy thing is Jack's Sophie down to the smallest particulars.
My favourite bit was this from Guthrie, Cochrane's particular friend and surgeon on all of his ships from the Speedy onward. (Ehehe.) The Spanish were on a lookout for the Speedy so Cochrane puts on his stealthy-scraper and pretends to be a neutral Danish ship just coming from Algiers, where the plague was raging.
"The Speedy was from Mahon and had not been at Algiers during the time I belonged to her - I was on deck and heard Lord Cochrane dictate to the quarter master what to say and as no one in the brig for the time being could speak or understand any language except Danish and the Spaniard had only a seaman who had been several voyages to the Baltic who understood a few words of Danish, but the word quarantine being nearly the same in different languages, on its being mentioned the Spanish officer exclaimed, oh! oh! quarantina, quarantina, and desired his boat to keep off - it was dark by this time, so we escaped."
Hee!
ETA: 'That night, according to Cochrane's account, he lowered a ballasted cask overboard with a lantern in the expectation that the French ships would follow the floating light rather than the Pallas. "The trick was successful... we saw nothing of them, and were all much relieved on finding our dollars and His Majesty's ship once more in satefy."'
Hee!
This also reminded me of Jack:
"On 21 January, the same day that the Mayor of Plymouth issued a warrant for Cochrane's arrest, the Pallas weighed anchor and made sail."
I bet Cochrane never left his ship those last couple of days either.
_____
The Cochrane biography continues to be loads of fun. He's just so... crafty. No wonder all the naval writers chose him as a subject.
I was just now reading up on Thomas Cochrane's baby brother, who apparently was an explorer and a captain in his own right. There's stuff about him here, if you scroll down.
But if I have to be very honest? The reason why I'm amused? His name.
John Dundas Cochrane.
XD
_____
Let me tell you what happened at the Battle of the Basque Roads.
This may be slightly off. I don't care.
Three Years Ago
Lord Cochrane: The French are weak. The race of grenouilles is failing! We should burn them with ships!
Admiralty: We'll keep that in mind.
1809
Admiralty: Remember what you said about burning the French?
Cochrane: Um.
Admiralty: Well, you get to do it! YAY! You personally.
Cochrane: Uh, great, but I don't want to go. I'm all battled out. Tired. Nearly had my nose shot off. Also not interested in kicking any superior shins atm.
Admiralty: Nonsense, you're a great shin-kicker. Off you go.
Cochrane: Dammit.
Gambier: Holy Dog, praise Jeebus, look who's come to join the fleet! Welcome.
Cochrane: Um. Hi.
Harvey: WHAT?! That twerp gets to go and I, a vice-admiral who has been at Trafalgar, gets passed over?!
Gambier: Seems so.
Cochrane: Sorry?
Harvey: *three page rant about how many different shades of crap Admiral Gambier is*
Officers within earshot: O___O
Crew within earshot: O____O
Gambier: Right. You, me, courtmartial,
Cochrane: Right, let's blow up these froggies!
Froggies: *fail to be blown up but are run aground and are pretty much stuck for as long as the tide doesn't set in. It's all very exciting and dramatic*
Cochrane: WHOO! They're vulnerable! Let's go finish the job.
Gambier: Um, no, let's just dawdle and waste time.
Cochrane: But, but! Come onnnn--
Gambier: Uhhh... no.
Cochrane: Oh, oh, what's happening? I seem to be completely randomly drifting in the general direction of the French. How odd.
Gambier: *oblivious*
Cochrane: Take that, Frenchie, and that! And this! And that!
Gambier: Ack! Idiot!
Cochrane: Hey, Gamby! They're too many for little old me, but if you bring in the fleet we can take them easy!
Gambier: But I am le frightened.
Cochrane: Dude! Send me the fleet! NOW!
Gambier: Ehhh...
Cochrane: Alright, you bastard. *signals I AM IN DISTRESS, PLEASE HELP, YOU FIGWIT*
Gambier: Dammit, I have no option now. Fleet! To the rescue!
Fleet: Tadatada tadaaa! Chaaaaarge!
So some of the French ships are burned, others are hopelessly aground... I think a few might have escaped? Not sure.
ANYWAY...
Gambier: Fleet! Retreat!
Cochrane: I choose to ignore that order. I have a higher authority, you wimp.
Gambier: *sends letter* "Lord Cochrane, you have permission to do what you want but I tell you it will definitely fail."
Cochrane: *replies* "Admiral G, I will succeed."
Gambier: Alright, you whippersnapper, back to me, I'm sending you off to Blighty.
Cochrane: But I was just to attack the last couple of Frenchies! Sure of victory and everything!
Gambier: Not anymore, you ain't.
Cochrane: Dammit.
England: YAY LORD COCHRANE!
Cochrane: YAY ME!
England: YAY VICTORY!
Cochrane: Yay indeed!
England: YAY GAMBIER!
Cochrane: Excuse me?
Harvey: Gambier is an uber-religious idiot who would rather muster his crew than kill a Frenchie.
Admiralty: Alright, no more Navy for you. You're out of the club.
Harvey: And damn the rest of you, too.
Cochrane: Gambier is a coward who waited for four hours before he would act and even then I had to cheat.
Gambier: What? I won't be so insulted! I demand a court-martial!
President of C-M: Hi, I am a good friend of Gambier's!
Second most senior officer: Hi, I served with Gambier for six years!
Cochrane: Well... dammit.
And that's where I'm at now. Cocky isn't making himself any friends here...
Man, I love this book.
September 16, 2023
Only the chapter 18 Brazil and Beyond,1822–1825.
The book seems interesting and well written. Maybe I will return in future and read it in full.
The book seems interesting and well written. Maybe I will return in future and read it in full.
September 11, 2023
For me, there was too much punctuation at the end: almost as soon as I finished reading David Cordingly's Cochrane: The Real Master And Commander, I had to enter the throes of a colonoscopy. That ended the reading, and the week, in a weird way.
Cordingly is a fantastic writer, and teacher. He ably ventured beyond the normal expectations of a mostly successful Napoleonic-era British naval commander, leading the reader into the UK politics, and the social settings. I was fascinated that Cochrane, and other still-serving military officers, sometimes held political office. Cochrane served in Parliament in England, despite being a native Scot It was a very different world.
Cordingly's historical writing bordered on news reporting, with some feature writing artistically added in. Cordingly, 84, is better recognized in the UK than he is here, and that's a shame.
Cochrane's faults, initiative, solid instincts, and tenacity were all on display here. He was not a perfect hero, but he was that in part because of the courage he had when confronted by obvious wrongs. Some of his anti-establishment stands hindered his naval career, but he generally stuck to his guns.
Besides having plenty to do with eventually defeating Napoleon, who had labeled Cochrane "The Sea Wolf" for capturing many ships, and conducting numerous successful coastal raids, he helped set the world free. Cochrane, out of the Royal Navy, helped liberate Chile and Peru from Spain, and Brazil from Portugal, before lending his experience in The Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Cordingly nicely followed Cochrane's personal life, his money dealings, and smaller items often ignored by other writers. Several fictional characters have come out of the eventful life of Thomas Cochrane, such as C.F. Forester's Horatio Hornblower, and Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey. Obviously, there's much to say about these people in this time, and a historian who can write -- like Cordingly -- brilliantly illuminates what's worth reading.
An easy five stars.
Cordingly is a fantastic writer, and teacher. He ably ventured beyond the normal expectations of a mostly successful Napoleonic-era British naval commander, leading the reader into the UK politics, and the social settings. I was fascinated that Cochrane, and other still-serving military officers, sometimes held political office. Cochrane served in Parliament in England, despite being a native Scot It was a very different world.
Cordingly's historical writing bordered on news reporting, with some feature writing artistically added in. Cordingly, 84, is better recognized in the UK than he is here, and that's a shame.
Cochrane's faults, initiative, solid instincts, and tenacity were all on display here. He was not a perfect hero, but he was that in part because of the courage he had when confronted by obvious wrongs. Some of his anti-establishment stands hindered his naval career, but he generally stuck to his guns.
Besides having plenty to do with eventually defeating Napoleon, who had labeled Cochrane "The Sea Wolf" for capturing many ships, and conducting numerous successful coastal raids, he helped set the world free. Cochrane, out of the Royal Navy, helped liberate Chile and Peru from Spain, and Brazil from Portugal, before lending his experience in The Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Cordingly nicely followed Cochrane's personal life, his money dealings, and smaller items often ignored by other writers. Several fictional characters have come out of the eventful life of Thomas Cochrane, such as C.F. Forester's Horatio Hornblower, and Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey. Obviously, there's much to say about these people in this time, and a historian who can write -- like Cordingly -- brilliantly illuminates what's worth reading.
An easy five stars.
January 18, 2014
Cochrane was a Scot who had led a quite remarkable life. He had fought highly dramatic battles in Napoleonic times, becoming much celebrated, but had also been accused of conspiracy and fraud. He had recovered to have a whole new and highly celebrated naval career in South America. His life was so exciting that he was the inspiration for much naval fiction, including the work of Captain Marryat who served under him, C.S.Forester’s Horatio Hornblower, and more recently Patrick O’Brian’s Jack Aubrey. The Government of Chile was still so grateful to Cochrane that they held an annual memorial service to him in Westminster Abbey. Yet Cochrane was little known to most Scots, and little celebrated in Scotland.
The initial discussion centred on the reasons for Cochrane’s successes. We identified as important his positive attitude, his innovative and creative approach to problem solving, and his determination to master all of the practical skills/crafts associated with the maintenance and sailing of ships. In addition, his fearlessness and his desire to lead from the front in naval battles were important. He was greatly respected by those who served under him, both because his ships suffered relatively few casualties and because his crew shared in the prize money won through his lucrative actions. These factors, together with his indefatigable spirit, were considered to be the features that made the greatest contribution to his successes. One described him as an extraordinary polymath, moving from state sanctioned pirate to politician to inventor with varying degrees of success.
Some of our group considered Cochrane a flawed man, impulsive and reckless in both his deeds and in his total disregard for the establishment and authority. He was motivated by money to an excessive degree, no doubt reflecting his financially insecure upbringing. He also displayed a degree of paranoia on many occasions.
But we all marvelled at Cochrane’s resilience, deeply hurt by a stock exchange scandal. His move to South America, where he helped to liberate Chile, Peru and Brazil from their colonial masters, salvaged his pride and cemented his reputation as a great naval commander.
The most impressive features of Cordingly's book were the quality and thoroughness of the research. However, for some, this was also a negative feature reducing the book’s fictional feel. The lack of speculation about “the why and wherefores” of the action or the absence of “embroidery” around the interpretation of decisions or events was considered by them to have robbed the reader of a better appreciation of the man. One of our absent colleagues commented that he felt that “the man disappeared behind the detail”, while another by contrast suggested that Cordingly might have sacrificed insight in order to achieve an easy read.
The opposing view was that it was a merit of the book that it did not project the author’s own speculations on to his subject, as more populist biographers like to do, but instead recorded what was actually known, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. This group felt that a very clear picture emerged of Cochrane’s strengths and weaknesses...
This is an extract from a review at http://monthlybookgroup.wordpress.com/. Our reviews are also to be found at http://monthlybookgroup.blogspot.com/
The initial discussion centred on the reasons for Cochrane’s successes. We identified as important his positive attitude, his innovative and creative approach to problem solving, and his determination to master all of the practical skills/crafts associated with the maintenance and sailing of ships. In addition, his fearlessness and his desire to lead from the front in naval battles were important. He was greatly respected by those who served under him, both because his ships suffered relatively few casualties and because his crew shared in the prize money won through his lucrative actions. These factors, together with his indefatigable spirit, were considered to be the features that made the greatest contribution to his successes. One described him as an extraordinary polymath, moving from state sanctioned pirate to politician to inventor with varying degrees of success.
Some of our group considered Cochrane a flawed man, impulsive and reckless in both his deeds and in his total disregard for the establishment and authority. He was motivated by money to an excessive degree, no doubt reflecting his financially insecure upbringing. He also displayed a degree of paranoia on many occasions.
But we all marvelled at Cochrane’s resilience, deeply hurt by a stock exchange scandal. His move to South America, where he helped to liberate Chile, Peru and Brazil from their colonial masters, salvaged his pride and cemented his reputation as a great naval commander.
The most impressive features of Cordingly's book were the quality and thoroughness of the research. However, for some, this was also a negative feature reducing the book’s fictional feel. The lack of speculation about “the why and wherefores” of the action or the absence of “embroidery” around the interpretation of decisions or events was considered by them to have robbed the reader of a better appreciation of the man. One of our absent colleagues commented that he felt that “the man disappeared behind the detail”, while another by contrast suggested that Cordingly might have sacrificed insight in order to achieve an easy read.
The opposing view was that it was a merit of the book that it did not project the author’s own speculations on to his subject, as more populist biographers like to do, but instead recorded what was actually known, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. This group felt that a very clear picture emerged of Cochrane’s strengths and weaknesses...
This is an extract from a review at http://monthlybookgroup.wordpress.com/. Our reviews are also to be found at http://monthlybookgroup.blogspot.com/
April 22, 2009
I wanted to read this book to learn more about the remarkable man whose life provided the raw material for the tales of Jack Aubrey and Horatio Hornblower. Cordingly's excellent historical biography deserves to be read on its own merits.
Lord Thomas Cochrane executed such stunningly audacious feats - successfully attacking much larger ships with his small sloop Speedy, leading an attack of fireships on the French fleet at Basque Roads, and helping Chile and Brazil establish their independence - that one might think it was Hollywood myth, but it really happened.
Cochrane was a flawed man who could not restrain himself from reckless attacks on powerful forces in the navy and the government generally. Additionally, he also fought for reform causes as a member of parliament. His intemperate tactics and language did him little good. Of course, he was quite right in insisting that either the electoral system would be reformed from within or reformed with a vengeance from without.
After several years in the `wilderness', Cochrane sailed to South America and successfully aided the rebellion against Spain and Portugal. He eventually wore out his welcome there as well, in part due to fights over prize money. From there he went to the Greek Fiasco, as Cordingly aptly names it. He spent his remaining years fighting with some success to restore honor to his name. A sad dwindling away for this remarkable man.
Lord Thomas Cochrane executed such stunningly audacious feats - successfully attacking much larger ships with his small sloop Speedy, leading an attack of fireships on the French fleet at Basque Roads, and helping Chile and Brazil establish their independence - that one might think it was Hollywood myth, but it really happened.
Cochrane was a flawed man who could not restrain himself from reckless attacks on powerful forces in the navy and the government generally. Additionally, he also fought for reform causes as a member of parliament. His intemperate tactics and language did him little good. Of course, he was quite right in insisting that either the electoral system would be reformed from within or reformed with a vengeance from without.
After several years in the `wilderness', Cochrane sailed to South America and successfully aided the rebellion against Spain and Portugal. He eventually wore out his welcome there as well, in part due to fights over prize money. From there he went to the Greek Fiasco, as Cordingly aptly names it. He spent his remaining years fighting with some success to restore honor to his name. A sad dwindling away for this remarkable man.
August 19, 2016
An interesting biography of a British Sea Captain during the Napoleonic era. Cochrane was the eldest son of a Scottish Earl who engaged in many dramatic single ship actions and raids and was much admired. However, he appeared to have a persecution complex and always blamed impediments to his career on plotting by others. He was not helped by his Radical views during a repressive time in the UK due to the threat from Napoleon. He was ultimately imprisoned for stock fraud, and after release departed for Chile and Brazil, leading both Navies in their successful fight against Spanish rule.
His effort to clear his name in the Stock Exchange Fraud trial was ultimately successful, although historians continue to debate his guilt. The author believes he was guilty at most of being an accessory after the fact, but that he was railroaded at trial. He eventually outlived his real and perceived enemies and was allowed to rejoin the Royal Navy.
I listened to the Audible edition and would recommend it.
His effort to clear his name in the Stock Exchange Fraud trial was ultimately successful, although historians continue to debate his guilt. The author believes he was guilty at most of being an accessory after the fact, but that he was railroaded at trial. He eventually outlived his real and perceived enemies and was allowed to rejoin the Royal Navy.
I listened to the Audible edition and would recommend it.
June 9, 2014
A solid, overall enjoyable biography of an astounding man.
Having read Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series, it's strange to see that all the things and events that made 'Lucky' Jack Aubrey a great fictional character, are simply biographical for Thomas Cochrane.
I give it 4/5 stars because I think the author spoils (as much as a historical record can be) the naturally building drama of many of the events by telling you how it turns out before describing the action. I also felt his retelling of the Gamo action was a bit rushed and underplayed considering the brilliance of it.
There were also some typo issues in the last 1/3 of the book. Nothing too bad, just noticeable.
If you know anything about Cochrane, you'll enjoy this book. If you've never heard of him, all the more reason to read it!
*Kindle Version
Having read Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series, it's strange to see that all the things and events that made 'Lucky' Jack Aubrey a great fictional character, are simply biographical for Thomas Cochrane.
I give it 4/5 stars because I think the author spoils (as much as a historical record can be) the naturally building drama of many of the events by telling you how it turns out before describing the action. I also felt his retelling of the Gamo action was a bit rushed and underplayed considering the brilliance of it.
There were also some typo issues in the last 1/3 of the book. Nothing too bad, just noticeable.
If you know anything about Cochrane, you'll enjoy this book. If you've never heard of him, all the more reason to read it!
*Kindle Version
January 20, 2011
If you enjoyed Master and Commander, or even just enjoy the stories of the British at sea during the peak of their empire, this is a great book for you. Few people know about Thomas Cochrane, whose life was the basis for the movie Master and Commander. Instead of being Crowe-esque, however, Cochrane was a giant ginger who worked his way as a midshipman - all while learning to scrub decks unlike most officers - to becoming one of the most revered captains of his day and to the downfall that followed. Cochrane was involved in some very interesting battles, and in the main portrait on the cover of the book you can see his tall stature and red hair as he swings a sword at his enemy. Truly an interesting read!
April 12, 2021
A thoroughly enjoyable biography of Admiral the Right Honourable Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald GCB, commonly known as Lord Cochrane. This work is not overly technical so those without knowledge of naval terms, etc. will not get lost in the text. Lord Cochrane lived a turbulent life. A celebrated officer in the Royal Navy and a reformist Member of Parliament before a sequence of events lead to his disgrace and removal from both professions. He then found purpose in leading, in turn, the naval forces of Chile, Brazil and Greece as those nations sought to gain their independence. Eventually, Lord Cochrane returned to Britain where he was exonerated and restored to a respectable position in society and in the Royal Navy.
January 5, 2010
It's always fascinating to read biographies of individuals whose real-life exploits are so clearly the inspiration for fictional masterpieces. Lord Cochrane's life in both the British navy and his 'freelance' efforts in South America make for great reading (or listening in this case). What gives the book additional depth is the time spent detailing Cochrane's battle with personal and professional demons. It's a compelling story largely due to how, having fallen from grace through (debatably) no fault of his own, Cochrane persevered, went on to still greater glory, and died having had his honor ultimately restored.
November 15, 2015
Just finished listening to the audiobook Cochrane by David Cordingly, read by John Lee. Good book, it was more like a nautical adventure novel than a biography; helped by Admiral Cochrane's adventurous life and the narrator's use of accents to highlight the personal quotations. There are many life lessons to be learned from Cochrane's story, some good, others not so much. The biggest is the importance of perseverance. Whether it was a short sea battle or a decades long legal fight, he never gave up. I know that was sometimes distasteful to his contemporaries, but what a fulfilling life he lived.
December 17, 2015
Certainly little doubt can remain that O'Brien drank from Cochrane's biography in deep quaffs to weave his tales of Aubrey and Maturin. Unfortunately, Cordingly's premise is established by dragging the reader through a narrative so academic, so lacking in romance, so devoid of ambiance, one is reminded why so many of us were ruined on the subject of history from the time of grade school.
January 2, 2021
A very interesting life, and thoroughly well-researched. However, the author seemed to want to show this by including excessive extraneous detail. I feel I know more about the exact date and time particular ships, of accurately specified tonnage, entered ports than I do about the exploits of Lord Cochrane. But I also learned a lot about a great man, and so I enjoyed the book.
April 18, 2021
A great history of a man who was the inspiration for many famous fictional naval characters such as Hornblower and Aubrey. As exciting as these characters are, the real story of the man they are based on is far more fascinating and exciting.
March 2, 2022
I've been aware of Cochrane for a while (as a long term reader of CS Forester's Hornblower novels if nothing else). This is the first time I've explored his actual life and story. This book feels like a good introduction to the subject, easily readable and feels well researched.
December 14, 2014
A good biography of the man said to be the model for Patrick O'Brian's Capt.Jack Aubrey. A good read for Age of Sail fans.
June 2, 2016
Terrific biography of the little known navel hero who was the model for Patrick O'Brian to base Captain Jack Aubrey upon.
Cracking.
Cracking.
January 24, 2024
Excellent book. Gets under skin of Cochrane and enjoy how Cordingly grappling with pros and cons of whether Cochrane was totally innocent in the Stock Exchange scandal.
June 28, 2025
There are some people who live 10 lifetimes compressed into one. Lord Thomas Cochrane led a life that became the inspiration for Jack Aubrey and Horatio Hornblower stories as well as material for famed novelist Captain Marryat in his fictional heroes. He regularly fought against overwhelming odds, most often outgunned and outmanned yet usually emerged victorious.
As spectacular as his naval exploits were, I enjoy looking into the story of origin and how such figures navigate a reversal of fortunes.
Born to a family of hereditary aristocrats, his family fortune had dwindled through generations (dowries, income from military rather than estate). Eventually Thomas Cochrane’s father had to sell his ancestral home and left no inheritance other than the family connections and good name. This left young Cochrane with a burning desire to seek fame and glory and re-establish the family fortune. Against his father’s wishes Cochrane showed his rebellious streak and joined the Royal Navy and later on revealing a principled roguishness to his character.
On a chance encounter with the legendary Admiral Horatio Nelson who solidified Britain’s naval supremacy for a century as a result of his command in the Battle of Trafalgar, young Cochrane was indelibly impressed. Nelson gave him the advice which guided Cochrane through his exploits, “Never mind tactics, just go straight at them.”
Years later Cochrane would find himself in a stock market scandal that left him imprisoned, disgraced, dismissed from the navy and struck from his knighthood, the Order of Bath for his valour.
These were his wilderness years. Many of us will go through some defining crisis of meaning- a divorce, business failure or near business failure, a close death etc. many men never recover and drift through life afterwards. Cochrane chose reinvention. Two years after his disgrace Cochrane was presented with an opportunity to lead the Chilean Navy as Admiral in their war of independence. Again, Cochrane proved his leadership made a difference in outcomes against overwhelming odds. Cochrane would again fight for Peru and later in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Turks.
Like a real life hero’s journey arc, Cochrane would triumphantly return to Britain and metaphorically sail into the sunset by restoring his reputation, family fortune and retire on an estate.
A rollicking read.
As spectacular as his naval exploits were, I enjoy looking into the story of origin and how such figures navigate a reversal of fortunes.
Born to a family of hereditary aristocrats, his family fortune had dwindled through generations (dowries, income from military rather than estate). Eventually Thomas Cochrane’s father had to sell his ancestral home and left no inheritance other than the family connections and good name. This left young Cochrane with a burning desire to seek fame and glory and re-establish the family fortune. Against his father’s wishes Cochrane showed his rebellious streak and joined the Royal Navy and later on revealing a principled roguishness to his character.
On a chance encounter with the legendary Admiral Horatio Nelson who solidified Britain’s naval supremacy for a century as a result of his command in the Battle of Trafalgar, young Cochrane was indelibly impressed. Nelson gave him the advice which guided Cochrane through his exploits, “Never mind tactics, just go straight at them.”
Years later Cochrane would find himself in a stock market scandal that left him imprisoned, disgraced, dismissed from the navy and struck from his knighthood, the Order of Bath for his valour.
These were his wilderness years. Many of us will go through some defining crisis of meaning- a divorce, business failure or near business failure, a close death etc. many men never recover and drift through life afterwards. Cochrane chose reinvention. Two years after his disgrace Cochrane was presented with an opportunity to lead the Chilean Navy as Admiral in their war of independence. Again, Cochrane proved his leadership made a difference in outcomes against overwhelming odds. Cochrane would again fight for Peru and later in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Turks.
Like a real life hero’s journey arc, Cochrane would triumphantly return to Britain and metaphorically sail into the sunset by restoring his reputation, family fortune and retire on an estate.
A rollicking read.
July 8, 2017
While Cordingly does take pains not to take Cochrane's autobiography at face value and does include the darker aspects of Cochrane's character, his clear bias in favour of Cochrane diminishes the informativeness of the book. While Cordingly subtly approves of Cochrane fighting for the common sailor and arguing against the huge sums of money some members of the Admiralty made, he glosses over the hypocrisy of Cochrane's own zeal for financial gain (especially in South America). He also glosses over the viciousness of Cochrane's effect on the peoples of the countries Britain was against (in attacking many towns in his coastal raids, he killed innocent people, which Cordingly does not mention). Cordingly also fails to mention the impact of Cochrane's actions and that of the independence movement on the Native peoples of South America. While he goes into some detail about the Napoleonic wars, his description of the South American wars is surprisingly poor. He does not give an overview of who is fighting on either side as he did with the Napoleonic wars. In the section on Chile and Peru, he mentions that Cochrane tells his sailors not to abandon the Esmerelda and go ashore on the mainland as, in Cordingly's words "it was inhabited by Indians who were likely to torture and kill them. This leaves some confusion for the reader: were the Native peoples not part of the Independence movement? Lastly, Cordingly notes that many naval historians have a dimmer view of Cochrane, but does not even air their arguments. Cordingly does provide a gripping narrative and much in-depth research about Cochranes life, but the book would have benefited from less quotes from contemporaries praising Cochrane, more background about the independence wars of Chile, Peru, and Brazil, and a more in-depth look at the darker of Cochrane and analysis of the arguments against him.
December 18, 2017
A very educational and entertaining biography, in a field that is often very dull and dry. It takes some love of and understanding of Napoleonic sea combat to understand but who else would read such a book?
Cochrane was a very amazing individual of incredible intelligence and courage who was deeply flawed by his crazed ability to turn friends into enemies and take the worst offense when none was intended. His politics were pretty extreme for his day, and he was too stubborn for his own good which led to a series of miseries in his life, but overall the man was an amazing individual.
Cordingly does well studying varied sources and quite often is at odds with Cochrane's own accounts, often pointing out discrepencies between his claims and the actual ships logs where he was in charge. Yet even with his own fabulism, Cochrane is still a superb, truly amazing figure and any fan of sea novels will benefit from and enjoy this book.
Cochrane was a very amazing individual of incredible intelligence and courage who was deeply flawed by his crazed ability to turn friends into enemies and take the worst offense when none was intended. His politics were pretty extreme for his day, and he was too stubborn for his own good which led to a series of miseries in his life, but overall the man was an amazing individual.
Cordingly does well studying varied sources and quite often is at odds with Cochrane's own accounts, often pointing out discrepencies between his claims and the actual ships logs where he was in charge. Yet even with his own fabulism, Cochrane is still a superb, truly amazing figure and any fan of sea novels will benefit from and enjoy this book.
April 24, 2025
This book does a great job of breaking down the events of one of the most daring seaman in Bristish Naval history in a very enticing manner, which is easy to read. The historical figure has one the most interesting and significant lives, and so every chapter includes a substantial and enthralling tale. However, as the key moments of history are unfolding around Cochrane, the author doesn't go into much detail on the significance or discourse on the key events. For example, Cochrane plays a key role in Brazilian indepence, yet not much is done to evaluate the scale of his contribution, the value Brazilians attribute to Cochrane both at the time and subsequently. But maybe having finished the book, this feeling of wanting more is still credit to the writer and the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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