Thomas Cochrane, 13th Earl of Dundonald
Thomas Hesketh Douglas Blair Cochrane, 13th Earl of Dundonald (21 February 1886 – 23 May 1958) was an officer in the British Army who served in World War I. He was a representative peer for Scotland and chairman of the Anglo-Chilean Society.[1]
Earl of Dundonald | |
|---|---|
| 13th Earl of Dundonald | |
| Tenure | 1935–1958 |
| Predecessor | Douglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald |
| Successor | Iain Cochrane, 14th Earl of Dundonald |
| Other titles | 13th Lord Cochrane of Paseley and Ochiltrie |
| Other names | Lord Dundonald |
| Born | Thomas Hesketh Douglas Blair Cochrane 21 February 1886 |
| Died | 23 May 1958 (aged 72) |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Residence | Gwrych Castle |
| Locality | Conwy county borough, North Wales |
| Wars and battles | World War I |
| Parents | Douglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald Winifred, Countess of Dundonald |
| Occupation | Captain, Scots Guard |
Life
Cochrane was born on 21 February 1886, the son of Douglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald and Winifred Bamford-Hesketh (died 1924).[2] He reached the rank of captain in the Scots Guards and fought in World War I, serving on the General Staff. 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.[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.[3] He was a representative peer for Scotland between 1941 and 1955, and was the chairman of the Anglo-Chilean Society. He died unmarried on 23 May 1958.
Army
In November of 1914, Thomas was 'invalided' home after having been wounded while fighting with his regiment at the front line.[4]
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.[5] During World War II, the estate was used to house 200 Jewish refugee children from the Kindertransport.[6] In 1946, following the war, the 13th Earl of Dundonald, resold the entire estate to Robert Rennie of Chester for £12,000.[7]
References
- ^ Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, Kelly's Directories, page 530, 2000. ISBN 978-0333545775
- ^ 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
- ^ a b Mosley, Charles. Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, Burke's Peerage & Gentry, page 1229, 2003. ISBN 978-0971196629
- ^ Liverpool Daily Post - Monday 16 November 1914 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000648/19141116/256/0009
- ^ "UK | Wales | North East Wales | Castle to be auctioned for £1.5m". BBC News. 29 March 2006. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ^ James, Bethan (26 January 2006). "UK | Wales | North East Wales | Welsh haven for Jewish children". BBC News. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ^ "Gwrych Castle Estate Records". Archiveswales.org.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2012.