Thomas Cochrane: The Real Master & Commander
Admiral Thomas Cochrane, was the inspiration for C.S. Forester’s naval hero Horatio Hornblower or Patrick O’Brian’s, Jack Aubrey (played by Russell Crow in the film, “Master and Commander”).
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Largely forgotten to the general public, yet he was one of the Royal Navy’s most audacious and feared commanders during the Napoleonic Wars, known to his enemies as the wolf of the sea and El Diablo (the devil).
In a rollercoaster career, he didn’t just fight in the Royal Navy but also in the navies of Chile, Brazil and Greece in their wars of independence too.
An engineer, who worked with the father of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and whose inventions are still used today; he eloped with a woman 20 years his junior and was humiliatingly thrown out of parliament and stripped of his knighthood after being convicted of serious fraud.
he ended his days, honour restored and is buried in Westminster Abbey.
The life of Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane (Lord Cochrane / Earl Dundonald) is one heck of a story!
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Chapters:
0:00 Thomas Cochrane Intro
1:36 HMS Speedy
2:41 Attack El Gamo
4:28 Captured by French
5:17 HMS Arab Incident
6:09 Member of Parliament
6:37 Battle of Basque Roads
8:45 The Hero
9:25 The Fall
11:40 The Liberator
13:48 The Engineer
14:17 The Return
15:06 Crimean War
15:57National Hero
Thomas Cochrane's Life
1775 Born
1793 Joins Royal Navy (Midshipman)
1800 Commands HMS Dpeedy
1801 Successful attack on frigate, El Gamo
1801 Captured by French
1803 Captain, HMS Arab
1804 Captain, HMS Pallas
1807 Member of Parliament
1809 Battle of Basque Roads
1812 Married Katherine Barnes
1814 Great Stock Exchange Fraud
1818 Patents Tunnel Shield (with Marc Isambard Brunel)
1818 Vice Admiral Chilean navy
1823 First Admiral Brazilian navy
1831 Pardoned
1848 Knighthood re-instated
1848 Commander in Chief, North America & West Indies station
1851 Admiral (Royal Navy)
1860 Died. Buried in Westminster Abbey.
May, every year to this day, Chilean navy lay a wreath on his grave.
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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or KZhead animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
The fact that Chilean Navy still honor his name and his historical links to them just gos to show how much they respect him and what he did for them.
Indeed.
Well said. What a wonderful tradition they are maintaining. Having served as an officer in the RAN its hardly surprising I am a fan of such remembrances...lol. The RAN (like the "parent" RN) holds annual Trafalgar Night Mess Dinners, and HMAS ALBATROSS, the Naval Air Station, holds a similar dinner on Taranto Night.
Cochrane statue is very prominently displayed at the entrance of Chile's naval museum (Museo Maritimo Nacional) in Valparaíso (where he arrived first time in 1818). Also the FF-05 Almirante Cochrane (Type 23 british frigate) can be seen from time to time moored at the Molo de Abrigo near the museum.
Here in Chile there are many streets named "Lord Cochrane" ; also a town named "Cochrane" 🤝🏽
Many thanks for sharing that information from Chile. it’s interesting to see how History is still all around us
Was O'Higgins in Chile ?
@@jacktattis yes , Bernardo O'Higgins was one of the main characters behind the independence of Chile from Spain in 1810
Cochrane may be my favorite Naval commander of all time. I may like him even more than Nelson.
Now that is interesting. Nelson v Cochrane...hmmmm...
great warriors are not known to be likable, but the men who served under them are the opinions you should trust. i dont think either would suffer many bad words in that respect.
Men were just built different back then! What an amazing career, far more impresive than any book or film.
Glad you enjoyed it Charlie.
You know Charlie....he's nobody's hero...Manson was a scumbag : when he died after decade sin prison...the so. Cal natives ...they cheered - he killed a pregnant woman -... despicable , applies....
It would need a series of films to tell the story of such an amazing man
Indeed. Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment.
@@TheHistoryChap Thank you. I'm now subscribed to your channel
Wow more people should know of this man, he live quite a life and played a pretty big role for multiple countries independace movements thats amazing! Once again great story Chris!
Glad you enjoyed it Dalton. Keep well.
The first time I came across Cochrane my thoughts was he would be a fantastic special forces commander. His raids on Spanish fortifications in the Mediterranean was stuff of legends. It got to the point where on sighting his ship he was followed along the coast by a formation of cavalry waiting to pounce the minute his men stepped ashore. What the cavalry did not know was that his raiding party had already been dropped in the ships boats leaving them behind to mount the raid once he had drawn off the Spanish.
Cochran would have loved being a special forces leader!
Another fascinating publication. I knew about Cochrane's career but not the revelation that he also found time to patent a tunneling shield. There was no end to his talents!
He really is a very interesting character
All I can say is ..... What a man . Brilliance.
Thank you for watching my video
I loved reading Horatio Hornblower adventures when I was a young boy. He was definitely one of my heroes. Thanks Chris !!
My pleasure glad you enjoyed it
Capt Marriot the author of Hornblower had served with Lord Cochrane
@@jacktattis Pardon? The Hornblower books were written by C.S. Forester, who wasn't even born until 1899.... If you mean Frederick Marryat it is certainly possible his works (such as Mr Midshipman Easy) provided inspiration to Forester and others... and Marryat did serve in 1806 as a Midshipman in HMS IMPERIEUSE under Cochrane... but he did NOT author those books...
@@trooperdgb9722 Yes thank you I was wrong
I thought Gruffud did a great job with the A&E series!
I stumbled across the great Thomas Cochrane many years ago and like everybody else I had never heard of him before and upon reading about him was staggered why. Another of his greats 'cons' at sea was when two French frigates were behind him, one on either side, and catching him up rapidly. It was only a matter of time before they came upon both sides of him and destroyed him. What did our man do? He got all of his men into the rigging and the moment the french came alongside he had his men instantly draw in every square foot of sail and bring his ship to a virtual stop and both French ships went sailing by. He turned his ship around and was gone. Amazing.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share that story
Very well done amigo, I was so impressed with this man's life. Sir Thomas Cochran does deserve a film because all of his accomplishments are simply astounding for one man in one lifetime. I also like the fact that he was called El Diablo by the Spanish, I am pretty sure they had other nicknames for him which were also not so flattering! LOL😅😂
I’m chuckling at what those other nicknames might have been. Thanks for making me smile on a Friday morning
From what I have read he escaped from capture and was not exchanged Napoleon wanted him dead.
I loved the story of this man I never had any idea of this Admiral Thomas Cochrane. nothing tought about him at school . I never heard of him till now but I truly loved listening about him keep bringing more good stories Chris.
Glad you enjoyed it
Cochrane is one of my favorite heroes from history. I have read a few books about him. And not only was he a great Naval tactition but he also led a Spanish guerilla force and captured the fortress of Mongat. Cheers Ron
Ron, thanks for taking the time to post. His campaign with the Spanish guerillas Wolves in my unedited version but didn’t make the final cut
I love how Cochrane a war hero get in trouble for owning securities. But Rothchild does the exact same thing after waterloo and gets away with it.
Which is strange seeing as Cochrane (at the time) was more from the Establishment.
Rewriting history, I think, a bit there. Cochrane was probably corrupt as hell. It's noteworthy that his friendly witnesses at trial had all conveniently left the country and their testimony was through correspondence. I like my hero's flawed, and Cochrane was one such flawed hero.
A seagoing Donald Trump?
Its easy, a certain chosen people always get special privileges
He was stitched up, but didn't help himself by conducting his own defence.@@TheHistoryChap
So glad you made this one, brilliant watch as always
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your support.
What a man and what a life! Thanks, Chris, for bringing him to our notice.
My pleasure. Thanks for taking the time to watch and I’m glad you enjoyed it
As you say, Chris… Cochrane REALLY DOES deserve a Blockbuster Movie of his own! With the right actor to portray him… 🤔 & with such an extraordinary amount of RIDICULOUSLY “larger than life” episodes under his belt, it could be a real success… But it would also need to be marketed & publicised very adroitly, in order to raise the necessary backing & also engender the advance publicity that successful commercial enterprises nowadays require… I would certainly pay to watch it - especially after your typically enthusiastic & informative retelling of his most famous rise… & fall… & resurrection, has whetted my appetite for more of the same… 😊👍
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
Another piece of our wonderful history that I was previously unaware of. Great tale Chris. Looking forward to the next one.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
What an amazing man. Great story, thanks Chris.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
My first naval hero movie was Captian Horatio Hornblower with Gregory Peck. At that time, what a movie. Then Captian Jack, what a swashbuckling adventure. I always wondered where the material came from. Excellent work. 😊
The TV series Hornblower is on Video and better by far then the Hollywood movie.
I was about ten years old. At that time it was a big movie. Now the movies are more realistic.
Thanks for sharing your memories. I appreciate you taking the time to comment
An amazing character.
Indeed, he was. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I'm a Texan who's a British history enthusiast and I'm so glad I found your channel! Master and commander is one of my favorite movies and I loved the Hornblower series so this video hit the spot! Keep doing what you're doing sir.
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
Great video, Chris. I read the Hornblower books as a youngster but, many years later, I came upon the brilliant Aubrey/Maturin series. I read all 20 volumes straight through twice. Aubrey beats Hornblower, imho. Obviously, Cochrane was next and I bought the biography by Brian Vale. I am sure there are others out there but this gives a flavour of the man and his career. The film, btw, suffered from trying to splice two books together and then changing the target from American to French, in order not to offend the US audience, presumably. Some of the casting was poor, too, apart from Aubrey himself. There were also occasional solecisms: Aubrey would never have addressed his Coxwain by his first name, for example. On the other hand, the film really conjured up the atmosphere of a Man o' War in Nelson's navy. Which is your favourite series; Forrester's or O'Brian's?
Glad you enjoyed. As to your question, I do like both books but possibly Hornblower shaves it for me.
In my opinion Aubrey does NOT beat Hornblower the series is with British actors not a Kiwi / Australian . Certain series are better left to certain countries actors
Without a doubt one of the best captains in British naval history! That man had QUITE A LIFE! That man having his honors restored before his death was miraculous, all things considered. HMS Kangaroo, never heard of that one before He He He! Until the next one.
Nathan, I’m glad you enjoyed this one and thank you for taking the time to get in touch with ideas for future productions
that picture of him @15.33 is one of the most powerful images of any naval man. i saw it in large format at portsmouth historic dockyard last summer and just got sucked in by it (the wife and kids buggered off - mission accomplished! lol). just thinking about the things he had seen and done, and the haggard and weathered features of a man who would take on anyone at sea. amazing stuff.
Thank you for taking the time to comment
Wow, a truly great British hero,what a life he had.Thanks for posting.
My pleasure. Thank you for taking the time to both watch and comment. What would you like to hear about in the future?
I had an older acquaintance who had served with the British and Australian army in Lebanon and Iraq during WW2 against Vichy France, he described it as quite surreal, as he was on horse and the Vichy forces avoided close contact with the British and Australians. Also British forces defending Baku against the Bolsoviks in late 1918.I like the little known campaigns and maverick commanders,that Britain and Ireland have produced over the centuries.
What a story of an amazing man
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching
Excellent story Chris, didn't know about cochrane! Wotta man, he's needed today! bit like King Arthur.
Maybe those characters do exist, but they’re just shaped by the current world around them?
Or corrupted by it ?
Chris, you made my day as an old salt with this great story...! Thanks...!
thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
I read about this man about 10 years ago, great subject Chris. Two fingers up to the establishment.
Thank you for watching and for taking the time to comment
Cochrane is A 'Heroic Legend' I learned about him from my Grandfather who served in the RN in WW1 and WW2 and I was about 9 when he told the Cochrane story Thank you for telling this story I reckon Guy Ritchie could make a Cochrane film!
Oooh, Guy Ritchie making a film about Cochrane. Now that would be good!
Not a film, but a series.
I think you will find master and commander was a film as well. As indeed was Hornblower, starring Gregory Peck.
Hey Chris, great post. I saw the title and wasn't that bothered, but now I am so glad to have watched. Thank you.
Yes, been struggling with the title. Thanks for watching and I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks Chris. Had never heard of this chap before. Totally agree that they should make a real film about him!! Truth really can be stranger than fiction
You alright, truth really can be stranger than fiction
Best History Chap story..and there are many great ones...
That’s very kind of you, thanks
Amazing. I can't imagine someone of such character and tenacity in today's modern world. Thanks so much for this story. Another triumph for the History Chap
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
Patrick O’Brien lifted more than just one story from Cochran & the Speedy . :) Great stories:)
Thanks for watching my video.
Several actually. He also expanded on the theme of brilliant British naval commanders who were less than sure footed on the land however
I had heard the name Cochrane but didn’t know his story. Thank you for this tale of a real British hero
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
Wow.. what a life Thomas cochrane had full of action
Thanks for watching my video, glad your enjoyed it.
What a flamboyant character he was, pity we don't have a few like him today or are they depressed by government so much they don't shine.
I'll never forget Lucky Jack (and doctor Maturin) and Horatio Hornblower. Jacks fights in the Med and against the 'Cacafuego' and his capture is indeed a copy of Cochranes early career. What a story it is.
Thank you for taking the time to share your memories of both these fictional naval heroes
What can one say? Truly a mega hero! Fighting Britain's enemies & the establishment. That's very touching, the tribute afforded by the Chilean navy, they allied themselves with us against Argentina in 1982 if memory serves me well. Let's be honest this man defied all odds & won! A movie? No I think a mini series would be even more exciting & more incredible than any fiction,his attack on the Spanish ship in Chile saw him massively outnumbered but the ferocity of his attack unnerved the Spanish. To return to favour in Britain was also quite a achievement, still ready to fight at almost 80, we don't make them like that anymore. Thanks for bringing this wonderful history back to life, your enthusiasm is always so palpable, better than anything on telly, but then again your the wrong colour, too old for telly & obviously far right for being too patriotic! Lol! But we love your videos.
Name it Naval Band of Brothers Do not allow any American Involvement They will have him as a Scot from the States
Thank you for taking the time to post a very thoughtful comment.
I have heard of Thomas Cochrane before but that was a great story!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
What a great video! What a remarkable man.
Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment
Loved this - a brilliant story of a brilliant commander, brilliantly told! Thank you.
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
What a story... better than the movies
Many thanks.
I haven’t been keeping up much lately, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Cochrane also makes an appearance in the Richard Sharp series, which introduced me to him. Keep up the good work! :)
Welcome back! I’m glad you enjoyed this particular video. Have a great weekend
MY GOD, it has been SO SO SO long that I last saw ANY of 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World', I have seen it and have owned the DVD for YEARS and years, but I can't at all remember ANYTHING of it. But now, and once again all thanks in part to YOU, the amazing Chris Greene aka the History Chap, and another splendid video, this time of certainly a wowsome and true hero of Britain while and then after Lord Horatio Nelson was alive: Admiral Thomas Cochrane, who undoubtedly lead quite a life indeed, including what he did for several countries, after the big fraud scandal business which ruined him for a time, in helping secure their own independence from whoever applied at the time, and is the very inspiration for the characters of Horatio Hornblower (I take it that THOSE films are very well worth seeing, are they? Cos I've now literally just been looking them and the character himself up) and Russell Crowe's Jack Aubrey in the 'Master and Commander' film piece... WOW, what a hero, who's years following tumultuous times leading up to and the during the scandal of 1814 certainly were much better for him. And btw, I wanna take this opportunity to say to you, Chris old bean, that these last two days alone, I've done and immensely loved and enjoyed five more of your older videos, them being of...: 1) Sir Evelyn Wood (my GOLLY, the life and career HE had for sure, ESPECIALLY all those injuries he kept on sustaining right from when he began his military career success in his twenties, INCLUDING, above all things, a giraffe, hahaha); 2) General Hector Macdonald (a TRUE hero he certainly sure as hell was INDEED, especially when it came to the Battle of Omdi-Bum-Bum, uh, whoops, LOL, sorry, Omdurman, the history video of THAT I've now FINALLY seen as another from this week and gained so many incredible facts about after only knowing of it generally thanks to Lance Corporal Jones in 'Dad's Army', but who then sadly fell victim to society's BS views on sexism, which still took our own Army to fully accept and recognize until only 2000, hence a LOT of British men and women including Dame Kelly Holmes herself have only just been apologized to and given back what was stolen from them back then in recent years, and killed himself at the age of just 50); 3) the Great London Beer Flood of 1814 on October 17th that year, an event I certainly never ever knew of until I saw your video on it; and 4) Mad Jack Churchill, certainly quite the WWII Medieval fighter figure indeed, haha, the way he used a bow and arrows and basket-hilted sword against the Nazi Hun in battle rather than a gun, AND played the bagpipes whilst on the battlefield too, again, facts I was certainly wowed and amazed by when I saw the video yesterday, DEFINITELY well worthy of being a movie alongside Britain's WWI Rambo-like hero Thomas Todger Jones (if you don't wish Mel Gibson aka the one who made William Wallace and 'Braveheart' so worthy of enjoying, Chris old bean, cos I did see THAT in your reply to someone's comment on the Mad Jack video, would you settle for Duncan Macleod of the Clan Macleod aka Adrian Paul, the one who played Duncan in the TV show of the 'Highlander' franchise? Cos he's English, he played a Scotsman, immortal, yes, but still a Scotsman, in the 'Highlander' show, a sword was his primary weapon of constant usage in it, AND Adrian does martial arts, so yeah, if I could do a movie about the incredible Mad Jack Churchill, HE, Adrian Paul, Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod from the show of 'Highlander', is who I'D cast in a heartbeat, YES, sir). So hell yeah, I've had an absolutely INCREDIBLE week doing you and your nothing but absolutely AMAZING videos, Chris old bean, seriously, just HOW do you constantly do it, eh? I blame the Corporal Jones video you did last year in this, after all, if it weren't for THAT one posting, haha... Next ones of yours I'm intent on doing now are the ones about General Charles Gordon, cos I REALLY really wanna finally learn EVERYTHING about him and what brought what happened to him in 1885, and which was avenged at Omdurman thirteen years later, as well as the Nile Expedition and others at the time, and there's also your video on the cavalry charge at Omdurman, the British Army's last big cavalry charge at that, which future wartime PM Winnie Churchill was at. And as for future videos, well, I grovel and plead to you again, lol, PLEASE do the Battle of Sedgemoor, the last battle to be fought on English soil, and as for other big British military heroes to cover still, well, I'd LOVE for Lawrence of Arabia and Ernest Shackleton to be done, YES, sir
Glad it is spurred your interest again
Another amazing story, thanks Chris
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your ongoing support.
Amazing story. Thank you for expertly telling it. Love this channel
Thank you so much for your kind comment
Chris, is was an excellent video. Thank You
Glad you enjoyed it!
You've got some great detsiks innthere that other longer videos don't cover, thank you. I've been saying the same thing about a movie needing to be made but i think it'd have to be a series
Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment
Thanks for an excellent video on my greatest hero
My pleasure, thanks for watching.
@@TheHistoryChap he was a devious fellow with a use of false flags and kind of just taking his wages. But what a guy
Two of my favorite series... thanks for this!
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
thx again, Chris
My pleasure!
Cochrane is my personal hero! Mainly because he won by clever tactics rather than weight of shot, with very light casualties. This was a good but necessarily superficial account of his career. The full tale would make several episodes. He was in it for the Prize Money, and that was what he invested in the Government securities. The roads in France were so poor that a lot of internal trade (e.g. wine from Bordeaux to Paris) was conducted by coastal shipping and that was why his cruises were so disruptive to the French economy. He intervened in the Peninsular War by holding a coastal fortress and delaying a large French column from reaching the battlegrounds. His crew performed cutting out expeditions in the Gironde (3 corvettes out of 6 captured, and the remaining 3 scared off by trickery). In Chile he cut out the Esmerelda which became his flagship. In Brazil, the Portuguese military regime heard of his approach and abandoned Rio en masse in a fleet heading North to another port. He captured a treasure ship, then outsailed the fleet and captured the destination port without firing a shot. The Portuguese fleet eventually sailed to Portugal, and Brazil was liberated. Keep up the good work!
Apparently he and O'Higgins had a falling out.
Glad you enjoyed my video, thanks for watching
That was so interesting, a fascinating man. Thank you once more for sharing.
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent thanks
Gald you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
This is one of the best channels on KZhead!!!
Very kind of you. If you haven't already, please do subscribe to my channel.
Although my interest in history is more land based, this has been a fascinating story. You always inject joy and energy into what you present.
Thank you for your very kind comment. Much appreciated
Great sailor, very well told. Loved the pictures as well... thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it. What would you love to hear about in the future?
@@TheHistoryChap James Cook. Winston Churchill, the younger years. T.E. Lawrence.
Good morning, Chris, what an amazing man. And thank you for another brilliant telling, Cheers
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video.
Great video Chris! Great that he lived long enough to be photographed. Died on Halloween! Fascinating story. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
What an interesting life - as usual brilliantly told 😊
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
I was visiting Nelson's tomb in St. Paul's when suddenly I was surrounded by dozens of Chilean naval ratings and officers come to pay their respects to the great man. I had no idea of the connection between the Royal Navy and the Chilean Navy until that day. Wonderful story.
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing our experience.
A wonderful film, to be sure. Watched it again just yesterday Chris, coming back from Bermuda, nap time...😊
Totally agree. It is a great film. Thanks for your support.
Excellent work.
Many thanks. I appreciatre your kind comment.
Great video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it.
In Brazil, he also received the title of Marquis of Maranhão (a state on the northeastern coast). Another “curiosity” about Brazil's independence and the rule of Pedro I is that it may have been a suggestion from his father, the king of Portugal itself. Before embarking back to Lisbon in 1921, Dom João VI gave him the following advice: “Pedro, Brazil may soon break away from Portugal: if so, put the crown on your head before some adventurer gets his hands on it”...
Thanks for watching my video & for your comments.
Fascinating
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching and for your continued support.
Amazing
Thanks
As well as Lord Cochrane, thousands of British and Irish veterans of the Napoleonic Wars (Albion regiments) played secondary but key roles in a number of battles for independence in South America. At the Battle of Boyacá (1819) the Black Rifles and British Legion stopped Spanish Royalist forces combining. This key battle was a turning point for the independence cause and the Puente de Boyacá is a Columbian national monument today. At the Battle of Carabobo (1821) after Bolívar's main column broke, the supporting British Legion took and held a key summit when outnumbered and low on ammunition. This battle led to independence for Venezuela. At the Battle of Pichincha (1822) on a volcanic slope the Republicans aimed to sweep down on Quito. Slowed due to altitude and ash they were hit by the Spanish from the rear until the British Legion arrived just in time to counterattack and secure independence for Ecuador. At the Battle of Ayacucho (1824) Englishman General Guillermo or William Miller commanded cavalry and helped secure independence for Peru and South America.
Thank you for writing this very interesting comment. Maybe you and I should put our heads together and produce a video about the British Legion?
@@TheHistoryChap Yes, a video about this subject would be great! For anyone who wants to know more I can recommend a book called "Conquer or Die!: Wellington’s Veterans and the Liberation of the New World" by Ben Hughes.
Amazing story what a life. It has always amused me that the Chilean Navy has had ships called Admiralante Cochrane and O'Higgins (one a sister of the General Belgrano) very few people in Britain know of them or their Scottish and Irish connections.
O' Higgins was a heck of a character too.
Very interesting!!
Thanks for watching my video.
Imagine this guy as a U - Boat commander. Respect. Excellent research, brother. I was just looking for Telecaster licks.
Thanks for watching my video
I don't think that people would believe such a life story! But wow what life he lived! A proper legend!
I’m glad you enjoyed the story. He really did live a quite amazing life. Who would you like to hear about in the future?
One guy whose looks, mercenary temper and frigate captain-career path resembles Jack Aubrey, is Peter Wessel, a Norwegian serving in the Danish navy during the Great Northern War. In 1714, in command of an 16-gun frigate, he encounters a Swedish 28-gunner returning from England after a refit and under English command, and immediately engages it. The firefight lasts all afternoon and evening, and is resumed in the morning, continuing until both ships are terribly mauled. Wessel has run out of ammunition and sends an emissary to the Englishman, congratulating him on a good fight and could he please borrow some cannonballs? He promises to send them back directly. The commander regrets to inform him that the cannonballs are the property of the Swedish king, so he's unfortunately unable to assist the young, Danish lieutenant. Thus, Wessel is compelled to let the enemy ship run, but not before he and the English captain had toasted each other across the water.
😂😂 They don't breed men like that anymore, unfortunately.
What a great story! Thanks for taking the time to share.
@@TheHistoryChap You're welcome, and thanks for a great channel. I watch all your videos religiously.
There's a nice statue of the great man in his home town of Culross. Well worth a visit if you're in the area. Nice pub and as a bonus, a Victoria Cross recipient senior NCO from Queen Victoria's army buried in the churchyard.
Thanks for watchng my video & for your interesting comments.
Thanks for this life showing and yes Chris, we'll be daring and ahead in this age! He deserves a own film, imagine 40 years of brave and tricky naval fighting...I'm a fan of the english names for the HMS at all. Forrester's Hornblower fought in the Baltic and asking by a military historian the author said that it's a pure story, the interviewer was absolutely dumbfounded. All the best from Ludwig.
Hi Ludwig. Thanks for watching. Wishing you a great weekend.
O'Brian's books are based on many real events and battles with the names changed. This makes his stories authentic.
Thanks for watching my video
Cochran was even more audacious than Jack Aubrey! I’m a fan of the Aubrey and Matarin books by Patrick O’Brien. Thanks!
The Patrick O'Brian books are great. I've read them all.
I haven’t read them all, but I am slowly making my way through them
A seagoing hired gun. Now that's cool. And I love your use of the word, rehanged. PS The Chilean wreath-laying is reminiscent of a similar ceremony in the Philippines. At every morning roll call, the name Douglas MacArthur is called to which the answer, "Present, in spirit", is given. It's quite an honor to be the soldier who gives that answer.
I love that description. Thanks for posting.
Truth is more unbelievable than movies.
As the comment below, well respected gentleman, I shall remember him when watching the Master & Commander film for sure now
Thanks for your feedback.
Good video, thank you; what a fascinating and clever professional. I grew up on Hornblower and Aubrey. There is also another RN commander who has been suggested as the model for Hornblower or Aubrey: Sir Edward Pellew. Stephen Taylor's book 'Commander' is his biography and also a good interesting read.
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for highlighting Pellew too.
Say to a someone from Chile: "Viva Lord Cochrane, Viva Bernardo O'Higgins!"... it will elicit an immediate smile and handshakes!...Also, remember Sharpe's Devil!
Thanks for sharing that information about Chile. Appreciated.
Cochrane was an extraordinary naval hero. Two books everyone should get hold of: Donald Thomas' The Sea Wolf which is a wonderful biography. Bernard Cornwell also wrote a really good Sharpe novel 'Sharpe's Devil' which is a thunderously good read.
Thank you for those two books suggestions
Very interesting
Thank you
His taking over of Valdivia habour from the Royalists made him a real legend in Chile, let alone all his previous actions for O'Higgins. Even more remarkably, he led afterwards the Chilean fleet all the way to California, in the midst of which, to this day there is a Mexican dance in Oaxaca called "La Chilena", after the Chilean sailors under Cochrane who introduced it to the region. For us Chileans, Cochrane is one of us, more than one of yours, I dare say.
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Jack Aubrey was played by David Robb in a superb BBC Radio 4 adaption of the Patrick O' Brian novels and, as they say, radio has the best pictures.
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I've read about Cochran before and always thought that his story would be an incredible film if done with the right producers/director and actually historical correct with no woke BS
it would be a great film.
Interestingly enough, my neighbor down the street, and owner of a local hardware store, is named Thomas Cochrane. The two are of decidedly different temperament.
Ha ha, I will let you share the video with him!
In "Sharpe's Devil", (the last of the Sharpe series) in 1821, Sharpe and a very overweight Patrick are basically poodle faked into going to Spanish South America to rescue an old comrade. In the course of many adventure they encounter Cochrane in the service of Chile and assist him in various battles. It seems Sharpe thought Cochrane was basically crazy, and he refused to participate in Cochrane's ploy to rescue Napoleon (who Sharpe met on the way out) and in effect take over South America. In the Nathan Starbuck series we find Sharpe's son, Patrick, in the US Civil War. He is a one-eyed veteran cavalry officer who joins the Confederates. Cochrane also regaled Sharpe with the story of the ceremony when he was stripped of his honors.
If a film was made I imagine Liam Neeson as Cochrane
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There is a great documentary on him on the channel Kings And Generals.
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He was actually born at Culross ( pronounced Cu’ross ) in the ‘kingdom of Fife’ , on the Firth of Forth. The family had estates a Eddlewood to the south of Hamilton, and Dundonald near Troon. Hence he inherited the title ‘ Lord Dundonald ‘.
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There were some great characters in those days, most of the time there is a belief that most commanders were old duffers or martinets but Cochrane was an exception that proved the rule, but there were others who passed fleetingly but probably did a lot to gain and secure the British Empire.
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I'm glad to learn more about Lord Cochrane. He was just an ephemeral character until I saw this video, his only appearance being a passsing mention at school in an English prose passage from John Mitchell's Jail Journal: At last we arrived [at Bermuda by convict ship] at the anchorage in front of the government island, ..... we find ourselves under the guns of a stately line-of-battle ship of seventy four guns, with a square red flag at the mast-head denoting that she carries an admiral. ..... This admiral ... I find to be none other than the old Lord Cochrane -- or Lord Dundonald , as they call him now -- the very man who cut out the Esmeralda from the roads of Callao -- the Chilean admiral under O'Higgins -- the Greek navarch under the Congress of Epidaurus -- who has sworn more oaths of allegiance to revolutionary provisional governments than any living man -- who has been fighting the aquatic half of wars of independence all over the terraqueous globe, from his youth up. I have no doubt, however, that he regards Irish revolutionists as highly immoral characters.
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The tunnel under the Thames at Wapping which was designed by Marc Brunel was superseded by the work of James Henry Greathead (1844-1896). William Henry Barlow engineered in 1869 the Tower Subway with Greathead being in charge of cutting the bore (this was the second tunnel under the Thames). Greathead's tunnelling shield was different to Marc Brunel's design in that it was cylindrical and the reduction of the multiplicity of parts in Brunel's design was an immense advantage.
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