Rear-Admiral Archibald Cochrane, (20 June 1874 – 15 July 1952) was a British

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

officer.

Biography

Cochrane was born on 20 June 1874 and was the eldest son of Vice Admiral Basil E. Cochrane. His family had a tradition of naval service and among them was the similarly named Archibald Cochrane (1783–1829). Educated at Woodcote House in Windlesham,

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

and then at Eastman's Royal Naval Academy, Stubbington House School and HMS ''Britannia'', Cochrane joined the Royal Navy in 1888 and went to sea in 1890. He was promoted to

Sub-Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant is usually a junior officer rank, used in armies, navies and air forces. In most armies, sub-lieutenant is the lowest officer rank. However, in Brazil, it is the highest non-commissioned rank, and in Spain, it is the second high ...

in 1894 and to

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

in 1896. While holding that rank and stationed on HMS ''Anson'' in 1897, he was given charge of an operation involving a landing on

Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...

. In February 1900, he was posted to the pre-dreadnought battleship HMS ''Ocean'', which was stationed at the

Mediterranean Fleet The British Mediterranean Fleet, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was a formation of the Royal Navy. The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between t ...

for its first commission. Cochrane then became Flag Lieutenant to Vice-Admiral Sir H. Grenfell in the Mediterranean Squadron and in 1906 took command of HMS ''Speedwell'' in the

Home Fleet The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967. In 1967, it was merged with the Mediterranean Fleet creating the new Western Fleet. Before the First ...

. He was promoted to

Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

in 1908 and was commanding HMS ''Alacrity'' in China at the start of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. He took command of HMS ''Empress of Russia'', an armed

Canadian Pacific steamships CP Ships was a large Canadian shipping company established in the 19th century. From the late 1880s until after World War II, the company was Canada's largest operator of Atlantic and Pacific steamships. Many immigrants travelled on CP ships fr ...

liner, during 1914–15 and then was posted to the

Aegean Squadron The Eastern Mediterranean Squadron later known as the British Aegean Squadron was a naval formation of the Mediterranean Fleet based at Mudros from 1914 to 1916. It then alternated between Mudros and Salonika from 1917 to 1919. History The Easter ...

in command of HMS ''Sentinel'' until June 1916. Staying with that squadron, which formed part of the Eastern Mediterranean Fleet, he commanded HMS ''Skirmisher'' until September 1918. He was promoted to

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in that year. Following the war, Cochrane stayed in the navy, completing 41 years of service before retiring in 1929. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral in his final year of service, during which he also acted as

ADC ADC may refer to: Science and medicine * ADC (gene), a human gene * AIDS dementia complex, neurological disorder associated with HIV and AIDS * Allyl diglycol carbonate or CR-39, a polymer * Antibody-drug conjugate, a type of anticancer treatment ...

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. Born duri ...

. He had married Maye, only daughter of Colonel A. de V. Brooke, in 1904 and the couple had four daughters. He died at his home in Windlesham on 15 July 1952. Cochrane was invested as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1918 and was also honoured with appointment to the

Order of the Redeemer The Order of the Redeemer ( el, Τάγμα του Σωτήρος, translit=Tágma tou Sotíros), also known as the Order of the Saviour, is an order of merit of Greece. The Order of the Redeemer is the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the ...

of Greece and as a

Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cochrane, Archibald 1874 births 1952 deaths Royal Navy rear admirals People educated at Stubbington House School People from Surrey People educated at Eastman's Royal Naval Academy Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur Archibald, 1784 Royal Navy personnel of World War I Military personnel from Surrey Graduates of Britannia Royal Naval College People educated at Woodcote House School