The Almirante Cochrane by Roger Pocock
Cochrane's naval career unfolds as a sequence of audacious victories and bitter conflicts with authority. The opening exploits of the small brig Speedy establish his gift for defeating stronger opponents through surprise and ingenuity. Political enemies and public disgrace lead into further adventures in foreign service, where daring attacks again make him formidable. The closing account returns to his restoration to British rank and honors, his inventions, and his burial in the Abbey. Throughout, the narrator presents a hero whose technical imagination and courage coexist with a temperament that unsettles the institutions he serves.
By Roger Pocock · First published 1896 · Genre: Biography, Naval History, Military History · 1,702 words
First lines
A. D. 1812
When Lieutenant Lord Thomas Cochrane commanded the brig of war _Speedy_, he used to carry about a whole broadside of her cannon-balls in his pocket. He had fifty-four men when he laid his toy boat alongside a Spanish frigate with thirty-two heavy guns and three hundred nineteen men, but the Spaniard could not fire down into his decks, whereas he blasted her with his treble-shotted pop-guns. Leaving only the doctor on board he boarded that Spaniard, got more than he bargained for, and would have been wiped out, but that a detachment of his sailors dressed to resemble black demons, charged down from the forecastle head. The Spaniards were so shocked that they surrendered.
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Genres
- Biography — The work is a biographical account of Lord Thomas Cochrane's life and military career, chronicling his achievements, controversies, and legacy across multiple decades and continents.
- Naval History — The text extensively details Cochrane's naval exploits, ship battles, tactical innovations, and his service commanding various naval forces, making maritime military history central to the narrative.
- Military History — The work documents Cochrane's military campaigns, strategic decisions, and battles across multiple nations and theaters of war, emphasizing his role in historical conflicts and warfare.
- Adventure — The narrative emphasizes daring exploits, bold tactics, dramatic sea battles, and extraordinary feats that read as exciting adventure stories, such as the capture of the Esmeralda.
Tags
naval history · biography · Chilean navy · British military · 19th century · maritime adventure · South America · independence wars · military strategy · historical figure · ship captain · colonial history
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The Almirante Cochrane is listed on Textopian as an article by Roger Pocock, dated 1896 CE.
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- Work type: Article
- Author: Roger Pocock
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Biography, Naval History, Military History, Adventure, Historical Fiction
- Length: 1,702 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Almirante Cochrane by Roger Pocock
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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