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A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen, in Four Vols
A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen in Four Vols Author:Robert Chambers Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3143 SIR ALEXANDER FORRESTER 1NGLIS COCI1RANE, G.C.B. in 1778. In this capacity he acted textit{aa signal-officer to Lord Rodney, in the action with de Guichen and the French fleet on th... more »e 17th April, 1780, off Martinique; and it is evident, from the complicated manoeuvres which the British commander was obliged to adopt in bringing the enemy to action, that Lieutenant Cochrane's office on this occasion was one of great trust. After the action his name was returned among the list of the wounded. His next step of promotion was the command of the St. Lucia, sloop of war, and -afterwards of the Pachahunter, which last command he subsequently exchanged with Sir Isaac Coffin for that of the Avenger, an armed sloop employed in the North River in America. At the end of 1782 he was appointed, with the rank of post-captain, to the command of the Kangaroo, and afterwards to the Caroline, of 24 guns, employed on the American station. After peace was established with our North American colonies, by which the latter were confirmed as an independent government, Captain Cochrane's occupation for the time was ended ; and he spent several years in retirement, until he was called again to service in 1790, in the prospect of a rupture with Spain. On this occasion he was appointed to the command of a small frigate, the Hind, when, on the renewal of hostilities with France, he was removed to the Thetia, of 42 guns and 261 men. With such means at his disposal he soon showed himself an active, bold, and successful cruiser, so that, during the spring and summer of 1793, he captured eight French privateers, mounting in all above eighty guns. In 1795 he also signalized himself by n bold attack upon five French sail textit{off Chesapeake, being aided by the Hussar, a British frigate of 34 guns, and succeeded in capturing one of t...« less