A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Maconochie, Alexander
MACONOCHIE. (Commander, 1815. f-p., 12; h-p., 32.)
Alexander Maconochie entered the Navy, in Aug. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Northumberland 74, Captain (afterwards Rear-Admiral) Hon. Alex. Cochrane, under whom he was for some time employed off Ferrol, and then proceeded to the West Indies in pursuit of a French squadron escaped from Rochefort. In Sept. 1805 he removed as Midshipman (a rating he had attained in March, 1804) to the Seine 36, Capt. David Atkins, also on the West India station, where, in Sept. 1806, he again joined Sir A. Cochrane in the Belleisle 74. During the next two years we find him chiefly serving on board the Dispatch, tender to the ship last mentioned. He then became attached to the Ardent 64, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Jas. Vashon in Leith Roads; -but, being a third time, in March, 1809, placed under the orders of Sir A. Cochrane, in the Pompée 74, was by that Admiral nominated Lieutenant, 15 Sept. following, of the Ethalion frigate, Capt. Thos. John Cochrane, stationed at first among the Leeward Islands and then off Cadiz – an act which the Admiralty confirmed. In Nov. 1810 Mr. Maconochie obtained an appointment to the Grasshopper 18, Capt. Henry Fanshawe, in which vessel he continued until, in order to avoid being lost, as was her consort the Hero 74, she surrendered to the Dutch fleet in the Texel 24 Dec. 1811. The peace of 1814 restoring him to liberty, he once more, in the course of the same year, joined, on board the Tonnant 80, his friend and patron Sir A. Cochrane, who, in Jan. 1815, invested him with the command of the Calliope 10. He was officially promoted to the rank he now holds 8 Sept. in the same year, and has since been on half-pay.
Commander Maoonochie was nominated a K.H. 4 May, 1836. He was formerly Secretary to the London Geographical Society, and is now Secretary to the Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen’s Land.[1] He is married, and has issue.
- ↑ In 1818 he published a work entitled ‘A Summary View of the Statistics and existing Commerce of the Principal Shores of the Pacific Ocean,’ &c.