Chilean Navy lay wreath for Cochrane
Wednesday, 19th May 2010
The Chilean Navy paid its annual tribute at the grave of Admiral Cochrane, the 10th Earl of Dundonald, on Wednesday 19th May 2010.
A wreath was laid by the Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Chile, Sr Rodrigo Espinsoa and the Head of the Chilean Naval Mission, Rear Admiral Jorge Chandia.
The wreathlaying ceremony was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall.
The Rt Hon Earl of Dundonald gave a reading on behalf of the Cochrane family.
The Abbey’s Organ Scholar Samuel Rathbone played Oracion de la Gran Retreta and the Chilean Navy Anthem Brazas a Ceňir
Admiral Thomas Cochrane (1775-1860) had a truly remarkable career as a naval officer and a politician. One of the Royal Navy's most audacious and feared commanders during the Napoleonic Wars, he went on to command the Chilean, Brazilian and Greek navies, helping these countries in their fight for independence.
His life and exploits served as inspiration for the naval fiction of 20th-century novelists C.S. Forester, who created the character of Capt Horatio Hornblower around him; and Patrick O’Brian, who drew on Cochrane’s tactics for his naval stories featuring Captain Jack Aubrey (played by Russell Crowe in the film Master and Commander).
