The Autobiography of a Seaman

Publisher: Chatham Publishing 2000, originally published in 1860 £ 12.00 .

The son of an inventive but impecunious earl, ability and hard work gained Viscount Cochrane rapid promotion. A brilliant frigate captain he played havoc with French supplies during the Peninsular War concurrently becoming a Member of Parliament.

Envy and his obsession to wipe out corruption gained enemies. His ‘Explosion Vessels’ at Basque Roads panicked the French fleet into running aground. He opposed a parliamentary vote of thanks to Lord Gambier, his admiral, who failed to follow up the advantage. Falsely convicted of stock market fraud Cochrane was disgraced and imprisoned. On release he commanded the Peruvian and Chilean navies and later the Greek in their struggles for independence. Pardoned, he became an Admiral of the Red, oversaw the conversion to steam and was disappointed to be considered too old for active command in the Crimea. This autobiography of his early life ends with him in the King’s Bench Prison and although written in honoured old age reveals his bitterness. Produced in Chatham’s, usual, attractive style, the paperback is illustrated with portraits. - JLC

"© Cruising Association [2000] All rights reserved.
Use of this site is subject to our Terms and Conditions."

Page prepared 18 September 2000