Early career Thomas John Cochrane
the third-rate hms ajax in cochrane saw action junior officer
born son of admiral sir alexander cochrane , maria cochrane (daughter of david shaw , widow of sir jacob wheate, 5th baronet), cochrane joined royal navy in june 1796. appointed first class volunteer fifth-rate hms thetis on north american station and, having been promoted midshipman, transferred third-rate hms ajax in channel squadron in 1800. in hms ajax, saw action supporting french royalist exiles @ quiberon in spring 1800, escorting troops abortive landing @ belle Île in may 1800 , taking part in equally unsuccessful ferrol expedition in august 1800, before landing troops in egypt in preparation more successful battle of alexandria in march 1801 during french revolutionary wars.
cochrane transferred third-rate hms northumberland, on north coast of spain, in 1803 and, having been promoted lieutenant on 14 june 1805, transferred fifth-rate hms jason in west indies, father serving commander-in-chief leeward islands. rapid rise through ranks reflects father s patronage.
promoted commander on 24 september 1805, became commanding officer of sloop hms nimrod in september 1805 , commanding officer of fifth-rate hms jason in january 1806. in hms jason, having been promoted captain on 23 april 1806. captured french ship favourite off coast of dutch guiana in january 1807 , took part in capture of virgin islands danish forces in december 1807 during napoleonic wars. became commanding officer of fifth-rate hms ethalion in october 1808 , took part in capture of french island of martinique in february 1809 , of french archipelago of Îles des saintes in april 1809. went on command of fifth-rate hms surprise on north american station in august 1812 , saw action capturing american ship decatur in january 1813, taking part in burning of washington in august 1814 , attack on baltimore in september 1814 , being deployed in operations off coast of georgia during war of 1812. after that, became commanding officer of fifth-rate hms forte in june 1820.
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