efforts singularly failed
before Baltimore and
New Orleans.
Alexander Forester In-
glis Cochrane was born
on April 22, 1758, a son of
the Eighth Earl of Dun-
donald, Scotland. He
joined the Royal Navy
while very young and by
1778 had risen to lieu-
tenant. After distin-
guished service in the
American Revolution, he
was placed on half-pay
and remained unem-
ployed until 1790, when
command of the frigate
HMS Hindwas tendered.
Over the next 20 years,
Cochrane performed ca-
pably in his appointed du-
ties, which included the
suppression of French
privateers, service with the Channel Fleet, ac-
tion at Quiberon Bay, and the successful inva-
sion of Egypt. Cochrane also held a seat in
Parliament throughout this period, and by
1804 he had risen to rear admiral. In this ca-
pacity he performed useful service against
France throughout the Caribbean, and he re-
ceived command of the Leeward Islands.
Cochrane particularly distinguished him-
self at the Battle of Santo Domingo on Febru-
ary 6, 1806, and was created a knight of the
Order of Bath. In January 1810, he helped di-
rect the capture of the island of Guadeloupe,
was appointed governor, and remained so sit-
uated until the spring of 1814. He then suc-
ceeded Adm. John Borlase Warren as com-
mander in chief of the North American station
and was authorized to take offensive opera-
tions against the United States. In his private
correspondence, Cochrane waxed contemp-
tuously toward Americans and believed they
would fight poorly—if at all.
The abdication of Napoleon in April 1814
had profound repercussions for the United
States, for great quanti-
ties of British military
and naval assets were
now freed for use in the
ongoing War of 1812. Pre-
viously, a Royal Navy
squadron under Adm.
George Cockburn had
been harassing shipping
and coastal villages
throughout Chesapeake
Bay, but these operations,
while embarrassing, were
mere pinpricks. Coch-
rane wanted to expand
the role of the navy by
launching large-scale stra-
tegic offensives, not
merely raids. This would
not only bring the war
home to the American
public but also relieve
military pressure on Can-
ada. He subsequently
transported a brigade of Wellington’s Penin-
sula veterans under Gen. Robert Rossfrom
Bordeaux, France, to Bermuda in June 1814,
then began drawing up operational plans
against Washington, D.C. To further increase
pressure on the United States, he also issued
a controversial directive aimed at emancipat-
ing slaves, with a promise of freedom and a
chance to fight if they would desert their own-
ers. Only about 300 African Americans man-
aged to take up the admiral’s offer, but South-
erners became sufficiently alarmed to accuse
Cochrane of fomenting a slave insurrection.
He also advocated arming the Creek and
Seminole Indians in Florida for similar pur-
poses, prompting similar criticism.
Once situated in Chesapeake Bay, Coch-
rane directed the August 1814 landing at
Benedict, Maryland, of Ross’s army, which
proceeded to march overland against the
American capital. Following the rout of Amer-
ican forces at Bladensburg on August 24,
1814, Ross and Cockburn occupied Washing-
ton and burned all the public buildings beforeCOCHRANE, ALEXANDERFORESTERINGLIS
Alexander Forester Inglis Cochrane
National Maritime Museum