The Hon Thomas H A E Cochrane, DL, JP 'North Ayrshire'

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The Hon Thomas H A E Cochrane, DL, JP 'North Ayrshire'

Spy (Sir Leslie Ward) (1851-1922)

Price

£2,750

Signed

Signed
Inscribed with title on reverse

Medium

Watercolour and bodycolour on board

Dimensions

21 x 14 inches

Illustrated

Vanity Fair, 2 August 1911, Men of the Day no 2231, 'North Ayrshire'

Literature

Chris Beetles & Alexander Beetles (eds.) Portraits of Vanity Fair: The Charles Sigety Collection, London: Chris Beetles Ltd, 2023, page 193

Exhibited

'Portraits of Vanity Fair: The Charles Sigety Collection', Chris Beetles Gallery, London, October-November 2023, no 94

Thomas Cochrane (1857-1951) first served as an honorary lieutenant colonel of the 4th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and in the 93rd Highlanders and the Scots Guards before becoming Unionist MP for North Ayrshire from 1892 to 1910. From 1895 to 1901 he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain, then in 1902 served as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department.

“A representative of two of the most distinguished Scottish families is the Hon. Thomas H. A. E. Cochrane. His mother was Lady Gertrude Boyle, daughter of the sixth Earl of Glasgow, while his father was the eleventh Earl of Dundonald. The father's title descended to his brother, Douglas, the present Earl, who is five years his senior.

He went to Eton for his schooling, and there he met many of those who later became his closest friends in public life. His interest in military affairs has always been most keen. In addition to serving in South Africa with distinction, he has served in the 93rd Highlanders and Scots Guards. He has also been honoured with the Hon. Lieut.-Colonelcy of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders.

In the political world he has always been a staunch Unionist. Elected to Parliament in 1892 for the North Ayrshire Division, he was re-elected in 1896, and served until the January election of I910, when he went down in the contest over the Budget, being defeated by the small majority of 238. He did not seek re-election in December, I910. For a considerable time he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, and became Under-Secretary for the Home Department in 1902. This position he relinquished in 1905.

The Hon. Mr. Cochrane is a J.P., and also D.L. for Renfrewshire.

He is at present on an extended tour through the Canadian Dominion, where he is gaining a much-needed rest after many years of arduous and varied service.”