Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet


Sir George Cockburn

Portrait of Sir George Cockburn by John Lucas
Born(1772-04-22)22 April 1772
London, England
Died19 August 1853(1853-08-19) (aged 81)
Leamington Spa, England
Buried
Allegiance Kingdom of Great Britain
 United Kingdom / British Empire
Service / branch Royal Navy
Years of service1786–1846
RankAdmiral of the Fleet
CommandsHMS Speedy
HMS Inconstant
HMS Minerve
HMS Meleager
HMS Phaeton
HMS Captain
HMS Pompée
HMS Implacable
Cape of Good Hope Station
North American Station
Battles / warsFrench Revolutionary Wars
Napoleonic Wars
War of 1812
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet, GCB, PC, FRS (22 April 1772 – 19 August 1853) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. As a captain he was present at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in February 1797 during the French Revolutionary Wars and commanded the naval support at the invasion of Martinique in February 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars.

He also directed the capture and Burning of Washington on 24 August 1814 as an advisor to Major General Robert Ross during the War of 1812. He went on to be First Naval Lord and in that capacity sought to improve the standards of gunnery in the fleet, forming a gunnery school at Portsmouth; later he ensured that the Navy had the latest steam and screw technology and put emphasis on the ability to manage seamen without the need to resort to physical punishment.


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