William Cochrane, 1st Earl of Dundonald

William Cochrane, 1st Earl of Dundonald (1605– November 1685[1]) supported the Royalist cause during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Biography

William Cochrane of Coldoun, who was knighted by Charles I, acquired the estate of Dundonald in 1638. He was created Baron Cochrane of Dundonald in 1647.[1] The part he had taken in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, is evidenced by the proceedings of the Presbytery of Ayr, who, on 28 February 1649, debarred "Lord Cochrane" from renewing the Solemn League and Covenant, he having "been a Colonel in the late unlawful rebellion, and having went to Ireland to bring over forces," etc. In 1654, he was fined in £5,000 by Cromwell's Act of Grace and Pardon. In 1669,[1] he was made a Commissioner of the Treasury and Exchequer, and created Baron Cochrane, of Paisley and Ochiltree (having previously acquired the latter barony), and Earl of Dundonald, with remainder to the heirs-male of his body, failing which, to tho eldest heirs-female of his body without division, and the heirs-male of such heirs-female, bearing the name and arms of Cochrane.

The Earl, in his old age, was accused, 1684, of having kept a chaplain with his son, then dying, 1679, who prayed for the success of these rebels in the west—those covenanters who defeated Claverhouse at the battle of Drumclog. The Earl died in 1686, and was interred in the church of Dundonald.[2]

Family

William Cochrane married Eupheme, daughter of Sir William Scott of Ardross and Elie,[1] county of Fife, and had issue:[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Sean Kelsey, ‘Cochrane, William, first earl of Dundonald (1605–1685)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2006.
  2.  Henderson, Thomas Finlayson (1887). "Cochrane, William". In Stephen, Leslie. Dictionary of National Biography 11. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  3. Paterson 1863, p. 445.
Attribution
Parliament of Scotland
Preceded by
Sir William Cunningham
Sir Hugh Campbell
Shire Commissioner for Ayr
1644–1647
With: Sir John Crawford 1644
Sir Hugh Campbell 1645–1647
Succeeded by
Sir William Cunningham
James Fullarton
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
New creation
Lord Cochrane of Dundonald
1647–1685
Succeeded by
John Cochrane
Earl of Dundonald
1669–1685