Princess Royal and Chilean Navy honour Lord Cochrane

HRH The Princess Royal and His Excellency Senor Tomas Muller, The Ambassador of Chile, laid wreathes at Cochrane’s grave in the Nave of Westminster Abbey.

The ceremony was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Dr John Hall.

Mr Michael Cochrane, descendant, read Psalm 107 and Captain McIntyre, Head of Chilean Naval Mission, read The fallen.

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.

In 1831 Cochrane succeeded his father as tenth Earl of Dundonald and returned to Britain, under a new King, Wiliam IV. He was reinstated as a King Grand Cross of the most Noble Order of the Bath and promoted to Admiral of the Royal Navy.

From 1848-1851, during his final years of service, Lord Cochrane commanded the American and West Indies station. He died in 1860 aged 85 and was given a grand funeral. He was buried at Westminster Abbey. His gravestone reads: ‘illustrious throughout the world for his courage, patriotism and chivalry’.