North America, where he continued until the close of the war with the colonies, and then returned to England with Captain Griffiths, in the Charlestown of 28 guns.
During the ensuing three years we find Mr. Cochet on board the Powerful, a third rate, stationed at Plymouth. In June, 1786 he was removed into the Southampton frigate, Captain Douglas, in which he served as Master’s Mate, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Aug. 26, 1789, eight days after the naval review off Plymouth, on which occasion their late Majesties and family were embarked in that ship[1].
In March, 1790, our officer obtained an appointment to the Zebra sloop of war, and he remained in that vessel until April 1792. Some time previous to the commencement of the war with revolutionary France, he became first Lieutenant of the Phaeton, a fine frigate, in which, under the command of his friend Sir A. S. Douglas, he was present at the capture of many of the enemy’s vessels, and among others of the General Dumourier French privateer; her prize, the St. Jago, a Spanish galleon of immense value[2]; and la Prompte of 28 guns. In the spring of the ensuing year, he followed Sir Andrew into the Queen-Charlotte, bearing the flag of Earl
- ↑ See note †, at p. 706.
- ↑ On the 14th April, 1793, a squadron, under the command of Rear-Admiral John Cell, consisting of the St. George a second rate, Captain Thomas Foley; Edgar, 74, Captain Albemarle Bertie; Egmont, 74, Captain Archibald Dickson; Ganges, 74, Captain Anth. James Pye Molloy; and Phaeton frigate, Captain Sir A. S. Douglas, in lat. 41° 43’ N. long. 25° W. gave chace to two sail in the N.W. The latter officer soon came up with the St. Jago, a large Spanish galleon under French colours, dropped a boat on board of her as he passed, leaving her to be taken possession of by the Ganges, and stood on in pursuit of the headmost, which he took two hours afterwards. She proved to be the General Dumourier, a French privateer coppered, mounting 22 six-pounders, with a complement of 196 men, having on board 680 cases, each containing 3000 dollars, besides some valuable packages to the amount of between two and three hundred thousand pounds sterling. The St. Jago was from Lima, bound to Spain, and had been eleven days in the enemy’s possession.
trusted with the command of a small squadron, and on the 10th Sept. 1781, in conjunction with General Arnold, completely destroyed the town of New London, together with several magazines full of stores, and all the vessels that were in the harbour. He afterwards attained the rank of Admiral of the Blue, and died at Dover, April 6, 1809.
