JOHN DUNDAS COCHRANE, Esq.
[Commander.]
Son of the Hon. Cochrane Johnstone, by Lady Georgiana, a daughter of James, third Earl of Hopetoun.
This officer was at the battle of St. Domingo, in Feb. 1806; and afterwards served as midshipman on board the Ethalion frigate, commanded by his first cousin, Captain (now Sir Thomas J.) Cochrane: he obtained a lieutenant’s commission, in Feb. 1811; and was promoted to the rank of commander, on the 15th Aug. 1814. After the conclusion of a general peace, we find him perambulating a great part of France, and every province of Spain and Portugal. In the beginning of 1820, finding that he was not likely to be employed afloat, and evidently possessing no little share of that spirit of eccentricity and enterprise so strongly developed in his family, he volunteered to undertake a journey into the interior of Africa, to explore the source of the Niger. In order to accomplish this object, he not only prepared to assume the character of a mahomedan, but had even resolved to sell himself as a slave to one of the owners of caravans, travelling in that country, the grave of European endeavour.
The Board of Admiralty being unfavourable to this plan, Commander Cochrane next turned his attention to Russia, Siberian Tartary, the Frozen Sea, Kamschatka, &c., and soon determined upon travelling round the globe, as nearly as can be done by land; crossing from Northern Asia to America, at Behring’s Straits: he also resolved to perform the journey on foot, his finances allowing of no other mode.
Having obtained two years’ leave of absence, he filled his knapsack with such articles as he considered requisite to enable him to wander through the wilds, deserts, and forests of three quarters of the globe; then quitted London, and proceeded with all possible speed to St. Petersburg; where, through the recommendation of his friend, Sir Robert Kerr Porter, his proposed exploit obtained higher countenance than could have been anticipated. Not only was he furnished with the customary passport, but also with a secret letter to the governor-general of Siberia, and open instructions to the civil governors and police, “of all the towns and pro-
