Thomas Cochrane, 8th Earl of Dundonald facts for kids

Thomas Cochrane, the 8th Earl of Dundonald (born in 1691, died on October 31, 1778), was an important Scottish nobleman. He was also an army officer and a politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for Renfrewshire from 1722 to 1727. Later, he worked as a Commissioner of the Excise for Scotland. This job involved collecting taxes. He became the Earl of Dundonald in 1758 after his cousin passed away.

Thomas Cochrane: A Scottish Nobleman

Early Life and Military Career

Thomas Cochrane was born in 1691. He was the seventh son of William Cochrane of Ochiltree. His mother was Lady Mary Bruce. Because he was a younger son, he would not inherit his father's land or money. So, he decided to join the army.

He began his military career in 1713. He became a cornet in the Royal Regiment of Dragoons. A cornet was a junior officer rank. By 1716, he was a captain in the 27th Regiment of Foot. He continued to rise through the ranks. In 1718, he became a major. He was also the Fort Major at Fort St Philip on Menorca, an island.

A Career in Politics

After his military service, Thomas Cochrane entered politics. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Renfrewshire in 1722. An MP is someone elected to represent an area in the government. He held this position until 1727.

From 1730 to 1764, he worked as a Commissioner of the Excise for Scotland. This role meant he helped manage and collect taxes for the government. He supported the Hanoverians during the Jacobite rising of 1745. This was a time when some people tried to put a different royal family on the throne. Thomas later spoke in court against Archibald Stewart. Stewart was the Lord Provost of Edinburgh. He had surrendered the city to the Jacobites.

Becoming the Earl of Dundonald

Thomas Cochrane became the Earl of Dundonald in 1758. This happened after his distant cousin, William Cochrane, the seventh earl, died. William was an army officer who was killed in battle. He died during the Siege of Louisbourg in 1758. He had no children, so the title passed to Thomas.

As the oldest living son of William Cochrane of Ochiltree, Thomas had already inherited the family estates. These estates were located at Culross and Ochiltree.

His Family and Children

Thomas Cochrane was married twice. His first wife was his cousin, Elizabeth Kerr. They married in 1721. They had two children together. Their son, Thomas, sadly died when he was young. They also had a daughter named Grizel. Elizabeth passed away in 1743.

In 1744, Thomas married Jane Stuart. They had many children together. Their first son, Archibald, was born in 1748. Archibald later became an inventor and inherited his father's title. Their second son, Charles, was born in 1749. Charles also had a career in the army. He married Catherine Pitcairn.

Charles Cochrane was known for his bravery during the American War of Independence. He delivered important messages for Sir Henry Clinton. He carried these messages to Lord Cornwallis during the Siege of Yorktown. Cornwallis made Charles his special assistant. Sadly, Charles Cochrane was killed shortly before the battle ended.

His Sons' Achievements

Thomas and Jane Cochrane's third son was John, born in 1750. John became a successful businessman. He supplied goods to the British army and navy. Their fourth son, James Atholl, was born in 1751. He became a church minister and wrote several books.

Their fifth son, Basil, was born in 1753. He earned a lot of money by supplying the Royal Navy in India. Their sixth son, Alexander, was born in 1758. He joined the Royal Navy and became a high-ranking admiral. He was also a Member of Parliament and received a special honor.

Their seventh son, George Augustus Frederick, was born in 1762. He joined the army and became a colonel. He also served as an MP. Their youngest son, Andrew James, was born in 1767. He also served in the army and became a brigadier. He was an MP for several areas and was the Governor of Dominica. Andrew faced some problems related to money matters. His nephew, Thomas Cochrane, a famous naval officer, was also involved in this situation. However, Thomas later received a royal pardon.

Thomas Cochrane died on October 31, 1778. His eldest son, Archibald, became the 9th Earl of Dundonald.