Thomas Cochrane, Lord Cochrane (later 10th Earl of Dundonald, 1775–1860)
Autograph Letter Signed
One-page autograph letter signed “Cochrane”, dated Sunday morning, 20 January 1828, to Monsieur E. Blaguière at the Hôtel de la Manche.
Cochrane writes apologizing for having missed his correspondent the previous day, expressing eagerness to communicate news, and requesting a meeting:
“My dear Sir, I was anxious to see you yesterday as I have some news to communicate. I must be at home until mid-day as I have letters to write. Can you call here before then? Yours most truly, Cochrane. Sunday 9 o’clock, 20 January 1828.”
Measures approx. 9" x 7.5". Folded for posting, with address panel and wax seal remnants present. Date written in a contemporary hand, "2/6" penciled in at the top. Light handling marks, mounting glue remnants to verso, otherwise very good.
At the time of this letter, Cochrane was known as Lord Cochrane, one of the most celebrated naval commanders of the Napoleonic Wars, famed for his daring attacks in small ships against much larger French and Spanish vessels. By 1828 he had been disgraced in Britain due to the 1814 stock-exchange scandal but had rebuilt his reputation abroad, serving as naval commander in the independence struggles of Chile, Brazil, and Greece. He would succeed his father as 10th Earl of Dundonald in 1831, and was later restored to the Royal Navy, ultimately rising to Admiral of the Red. His exploits inspired literary heroes from C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower to Patrick O’Brian’s Jack Aubrey. This letter, signed just three years before he inherited the title, is a desirable example of his hand as “Cochrane,” linking to one of Britain’s most famous naval adventurers.
