Information Category | 08-03-08 03:52 GMT | Posted by Ian Chicken

Sir George Cockburn 1772-1853

Captain George Cockburn was one of a number of able officers who served under Nelson.
noting
"next to my own father, I know of none whose company I so much wish to be in or who I have such real reason to repsect"

Cockburn served in the Mediterranean from 1795 to 1797.

Nelson was happy to leave Cockburn to carry out the tasks of blockading the Italian ports
He lobbied Jervis to give him a larger command, he was given the 42-gun frigate La Minerve

They sailed from Gibraltar in February 1797, passing through the Spanish fleet. Nelson carried the news of the Spanish to Admiral Jervis who was patrolling off Cape St. Vincent.

La Minerve sailed from Gibraltar on 11th February 1797. she sailed in fog. During the morning watch she found herself sailing through the Spanish fleet. They remained unseen by the Spanish lookouts and Nelson and La Minerve passed safely through the Spanish fleet.

Nelson and Minerve found Jervis on 13th February. Nelson passed the news to Jervis who laid plans for the inevitable battle - the Battle of Cape St. Vincent.

George Cockburn rose to become Admiral of the Fleet, Sir George Cockburn. As Rear-Admiral he commanded the detachment of Royal Marines that put Washington to fire during the war of 1812 (the Americans used white paint to hide the fire damage, creating what has become known as 'The White House') .

In 1815, in command of Northumberland he was given the charge to transport the defeated Napoleon Bonaparte into exile on the island of St. Helena. It was his decision alone that Ascension should be occupied. He gave specific orders (2 sets) to Captain James White.
He ordered him to sail to Ascension  and on finding no person or flag there he was to raise the flag and claim the island for the British, and that a garrison be set up on to stop any one rescuing Bonaparte. This detachment was to be the first permanent settlers on Ascension.

Further information
British admiral, second son of Sir James Cockburn, Bart., and uncle of Lord Chief Justice Cockburn, was born in London. He entered the navy in his ninth year. After serving on the home station, and in the East Indies and the Mediterranean, he assisted, as captain of the "Minerve" (38) at the blockade of Leghorn in 1796, and fought a gallant action with the Spanish frigate "Sabina" (40) which he took. He was present at the battle of Cape St Vincent. In 1809, in command of the naval force on shore, he contributed greatly to the reduction of Martinique, and signed the capitulation by which that island was handed over to the English; for his services on this occasion he received the thanks of the House of Commons. After service in the Scheldt and at the defence of Cadiz he was sent in 1811 on an unsuccessful mission for the reconciliation of Spain and her American colonies. He was made rear-admiral in 1812, and in 1813-14 he took a prominent part in the American War, especially at the battle of Bladensburg and the capture of Washington. Early in 1815 he received the order of the Bath, and in the autumn of the same year he carried out, in the "Northumberland" (74), the sentence of deportation to St Helena which had been passed upon Bonaparte. In 1818 he received the Grand Cross of his order, and was made a lord of the admiralty; and the same year he was returned to parliament for Portsmouth. He was promoted to the rank of vice-admiral in 1819, and to that of admiral in 1837; he became senior naval lord in 1841, and held office in that capacity till 1846. From 1827 he was a privy councillor. In 1851 he was made admiral of the fleet, and in 1852, a year before his death, inherited the family baronetcy from his elder brother, being himself succeeded by his brother William, dean of York, who died in 1858.

See O'Byrne, Naval Biography; W. James, Naval History; Gentleman's Magazine for 1853.

Notable Dates:
1768-1771        Sailed with Nelson
1812               Set Fire to Washington DC
1815               Transported Napoleon Bonaparte to St Helena