A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Cochet, John
COCHET. (Admiral of the Blue, 1841. f-p., 29; h-p., 42.)
John Cochet was born 3 Aug. 1760, at Rochester, co. Kent. He is uncle of Lieut. John Christian Chesnaye, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 22 Dec. 1775, as Ordinary, on board the Blonde 32, Capt. Philemon Pownall, with whom, after cruizing for some time on the coast of North America, he removed to the Apollo 32, of which ship he became a Midshipman in Oct. 1778. On 31 Jan. 1779 he assisted at the capture, off the French coast, of the 26-gun frigate L’Oiseau, which only surrendered at the close of a sanguinary action of an hour and a-half; and, on 15 June, 1780, he further contributed, near Ostend, to the defeat of the French ship Stanislaus, of 26 guns, whose fire killed, including Capt. Pownall, 6, and wounded 20, of the Apollo’s people. From Dec. following, until the receipt of his first commission, 26 Aug. 1789, Mr. Cochet was employed on the American, Home, and Mediterranean stations, in the Amphion 32, Capt. John Bazely, Charlestown 28, Capt. Edm. Griffiths, Powerful 74, Capt. Thos. Fitzherbert, and Southampton 32, Capt. Aiidw. Snape Douglas. In March, 1790, he joined the Zebra sloop, Capts. Hon. Robt. Forbes and Wm. Brown, and in Dec. 1792, on his return from the Mediterranean, the Phaeton 38, Capt. Sir A. S. Douglas. After sharing in the capture of various vessels, amongst which were Le Général Dumourier privateer – her prize, the St. Jago,[1] a Spanish galleon of immense value – and La Prompte, of 28 guns, he removed to the Queen Charlotte 100, bearing the flag of Earl Howe, with whom he served in the action of 1 June, 1794. Having attained the rank of Commander 27 May, 1795, Capt. Cochet, on 4 Jan. 1796, joined the Rattler 16, and on 6 May following, when in company with the Diamond 38, took, off Cherbourg, Le Pichegru privateer, of 10 guns and 34 men. On 9 Dec. 1796, he was Posted into the Abergaveny, of 50 guns, in which ship we find him superintending the naval arrangements at the evacuation of Port-au-Prince, St. Domingo. He was subsequently appointed, 14 June, 1798, to the Thunderer 74, and, 11 Jan. 1799, to the Valiant 74. In the latter ship he returned to England with a large convoy, and was placed on half-pay 30 May, 1799; after which he officiated with great credit, especially at the battle of Maida,[2] as principal Agent for Transports in the Mediterranean, from 2 May, 1805, until June, 1810. He commanded, next, the Ardent 64, at Bermuda, from 3 March, 1813, until April, 1814, and, lastly, performed the duties at Halifax of Resident Agent for Transports and prisoners of war, from the latter date until May, 1815. Admiral Cochet, who has not been since employed, became a Rear-Admiral 12 Aug. 1819; a Vice-Admiral 22 July, 1830; and a full Admiral 23 Nov. 1841.
He married, first, 19 May, 1796, Miss Charlotte Jefferys, and, secondly, 15 July, 1811, Lydia, widow of Capt. Long, of the 89th Regt., which lady died 9 Sept. 1839.
He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's, Bideford