Thomas Cochrane, 13th Earl of Dundonald

Earl of Dundonald
13th Earl of Dundonald
Tenure1935–1958
PredecessorDouglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald
SuccessorIain Cochrane, 14th Earl of Dundonald
Other titles13th Lord Cochrane of Paseley and Ochiltrie
Other namesLord Dundonald
BornThomas Hesketh Douglas Blair Cochrane
(1886-02-21)21 February 1886
Died23 May 1958(1958-05-23) (aged 72)
Montreux, Switzerland
NationalityScottish
ResidenceGwrych Castle
LocalityConwy county borough, North Wales
Wars and battlesWorld War I
ParentsDouglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald
Winifred, Countess of Dundonald
OccupationCaptain, Scots Guard

Thomas Hesketh Douglas Blair Cochrane, 13th Earl of Dundonald (21 February 1886 – 23 May 1958), nicknamed 'Cocky'[1] was an officer in the British Army who served in World War I. He was a Scottish representative peer (from 1941 to 1955) and chairman of the Anglo-Chilean Society.[2]

Personal life

Cochrane was born on 21 February 1886, the son of Douglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald and Winifred Bamford-Hesketh (died 1924), he was educated at Eton.[3]

He succeeded to the Earldom of Dundonald and its subsidiary titles of 13th Lord Cochrane of Paseley and Ochiltrie on the death of his father, 12 April 1935.[4] He was a representative peer for Scotland between 1941 and 1955, and was the chairman of the Anglo-Chilean Society.

He lived a secluded life in his later years at his home in Auchans Castle, Ayrshire where he very rarely partook in public affairs. He died unmarried on 23 May 1958 whilst on holiday at Montreux, Switzerland at the age of 72.

Army

He entered the Scots Guard in 1908 and reached the rank of captain, he fought in France in World War I and he was also a General Staff for the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. For his services in the war he was awarded the Order of the Merit of Chile and made a Grand Officer, Order por Servicios Distinguidos of Peru.[4][5]

In November 1914, Thomas was 'invalided' home after having been wounded while fighting with his regiment at the front line.[6]

Gwrych Castle

The family seat was located at Gwrych Castle. The estate was acquired by the 12th Earl of Dundonald in 1878, through his marriage to Winifred Bamford-Hesketh, sole heiress of Robert Bamford-Hesketh.

In 1919, Cochrane's mother sold portions of the family estate, including surrounding land and mines. When she died in 1924, she left the remainder of the estate to King George V. The King, unable to accept the gift, turned the property over to the Order of St John of Jerusalem. In 1928, the estate was eventually sold back to the 12th Earl of Dundonald for £78,000.[7] During World War II, the estate was used to house 200 Jewish refugee children from the Kindertransport.[8] In 1946, following the war, the 13th Earl of Dundonald, resold the entire estate to Robert Rennie of Chester for £12,000.[9]

References

  1. ^ Sunday Express, Sunday 08 November 1953 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004941/19531108/024/0002
  2. ^ Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, Kelly's Directories, page 530, 2000. ISBN 978-0333545775
  3. ^ Massue, Melville Henry, The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal: Being a Complete Table of All the Descendants Now Living of Edward III, King of England. The Anne of Exeter volume, Volume 2, Genealogical Publishing Com, 1994. ISBN 978-0806314334
  4. ^ a b Mosley, Charles. Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, Burke's Peerage & Gentry, page 1229, 2003. ISBN 978-0971196629
  5. ^ The Scotsman, Saturday 24 May 1958 (Page 6)- www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19580524/121/0006
  6. ^ Liverpool Daily Post - Monday 16 November 1914 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000648/19141116/256/0009
  7. ^ "UK | Wales | North East Wales | Castle to be auctioned for £1.5m". BBC News. 29 March 2006. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  8. ^ James, Bethan (26 January 2006). "UK | Wales | North East Wales | Welsh haven for Jewish children". BBC News. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  9. ^ "Gwrych Castle Estate Records". Archiveswales.org.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Earl of Dundonald
1935–1958 		Succeeded by