Cockburn, George, Sir, 1772-1853

British naval officer.

From the description of Sir George Cockburn papers, 1788-1847 (bulk 1800-1820). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70980033

Sir George Cockburn, British naval officer. Cockburn played a major role in the War of 1812, leading the capture and burning of Washington on August 24, 1814.

From the description of Sir George Cockburn manuscript material : 1 item, 1824 (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122379527

From the guide to the Sir George Cockburn manuscript material : 1 item, 1824, (The New York Public Library. Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle.)

Biographical Note

• 1772: Born, England
• 1781: Enlisted as captain's servant in British navy
• 1786: First assignment to sea duty
• 1793: Commissioned lieutenant
• 1793 - 1802 : Commanded ship in Mediterranean under Horatio Nelson
• 1808: Stationed in West Indies
• 1809: Married cousin Mary Cockburn Stationed at Schelde River, Belgium Commander of naval forces on shore during British conquest of Martinique
• 1810 - 1911 : Patrolled coasts of Spain and France
• 1812: Promoted to rank of rear admiral
• 1813: Blockaded American shipping in the Mid-Atlantic states; attacked American coastal fortifications; participated in the Battle of Bladensburg; coordinated, ordered, and participated in the burning of Washington, D.C.
• 1815: Conveyed Napoleon to St. Helena
• 1815 - 1816 : Governor of St. Helena
• 1819: Promoted to rank of vice admiral
• 1820 - 1846 : Member of British Parliament and Lord of the Admiralty
• 1837: Promoted to rank of admiral
• 1851: Promoted to rank of admiral of the fleet
• 1853, Aug. 1: Died, (location unknown); buried in Kensal Rice Cemetery, Maida Vale, London, England

From the guide to the Sir George Cockburn Papers, 1788-1847, (bulk 1800-1820), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Robert Barrie was born May 5, 1774, in St Augustine, Florida, to Dr. Robert Barrie of Sanquhar, Scotland, and Dorothea (Dolly) Gardner. His father died a year later, and in 1784, Dolly moved her family back to Preston, England. She soon married textile manufacturer George Clayton.

On June 5, 1788, Barrie entered the Royal Navy and worked under his uncle Captain Alan Gardner. Two years later he was appointed midshipman on the Discovery for Captain George Vancouver's voyage to the Pacific. Upon return to England in 1795, Barrie was promoted quickly to lieutenant, then to commander in 1801, to captain of the Sloop Calypso in 1802, and served as captain of the Pomone between 1806 and 1811.

In 1812, Barrie became the captain of the HMS Dragon and commodore in charge of the British squadron. In this year he played an important role in the blockade of Chesapeake Bay and captured 85 American vessels. Barrie participated in many battles on the Atlantic coast during the War of 1812, including the British attack on the Penobscot River region in Maine in 1814.

After the war, Barrie married Julia Wharton Ingilby (c.1795-1836), daughter of Sir John Ingilby, in Warrington (Cheshire), England. They moved to France, and had four daughters and one son.

In January 1819, Barrie moved to Canada as the commissioner of the dockyard at Kingston, located on Point Frederick. There he commanded the inland waterways of the Canadas, such as the Great Lakes and the port of Quebec, and prepared the navy for possible future engagements with the United States. He was called back to England in 1825, and was promoted to commodore first class before returning to Kingston in 1827. He relocated permanently to England in 1834, when the dockyard establishment was broken up, and, shortly after, was knighted Knight Commander of the Hanoverian Order (KCH) by King William IV, promoted to Rear Admiral in 1837, and made Knight Commander of Bath (KCB) in 1840. Barrie died on June 7, 1841, in Swarthdale, England.

From the guide to the Robert Barrie papers, Barrie, Robert papers, 1812-1831, 1814-1815, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)