William Cochrane (MP)

Early life

Cochrane was the second son of William Cochrane, Lord Cochrane and his wife Lady Katherine Kennedy. Among his siblings were John Cochrane, 2nd Earl of Dundonald, Margaret Cochrane (wife of Alexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of Eglinton), Helen Cochrane (wife of John Gordon, 16th Earl of Sutherland), and Jean Cochrane (wife of John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee and William, 3rd Viscount of Kilsyth).

His paternal grandparents were William Cochrane, 1st Earl of Dundonald and Euphemia Cochrane, Countess of Dundonald (a granddaughter of Robert Lindsay, 9th Lord Lindsay). His maternal grandparents were John Kennedy, 6th Earl of Cassilis and Lady Jean Hamilton (a daughter of Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington).

Career

In 1679, he succeeded his grandfather, William, Lord Cochrane, to the Kilmaronock estate. He was a lieutenant in Lord Ross's independent troop of horse between 1689 and 1691.

Political career

Cochrane represented Renfrew in the Convention of Estates in 1689 and as a burgh commissioner in the Parliament of Scotland from 1689 to 1695. He was a commissioner justiciary for the Highlands in 1693. In 1694, he succeeded his brother Thomas to Powkellie, East Ayrshire. He was a shire commissioner for Dumbartonshire in the Parliament of Scotland from 1702 to 1707. After the Union, he was returned as member of parliament for Wigtown Burghs at a by-election on 14 December 1708. At the 1710 British general election he was returned unopposed for Wigtown and was appointed joint Keeper of the Signet in 1711. He did not stand at the 1713 British general election.

Personal life

He married Lady Grizel Graham, daughter of James Graham, 2nd Marquess of Montrose and the Lady Isabel Ker (widow of Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe, and fifth daughter of William Douglas, 7th Earl of Morton). Together, they were the parents of:

• Thomas Cochrane, 6th Earl of Dundonald (1702–1737), who married Catherine Hamilton, a daughter of Lord Basil Hamilton of Baldoon (sixth son of William Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton and Anne Hamilton, suo jure Duchess of Hamilton).
• Catherine Cochrane (1691–1772), who married David Smythe of Methven.
• Isabella Cochrane (d. 1770), who married, as his third wife, John Ogilvy of Balbegno.
• Grizel Cochrane (d. 1753), who married her cousin John Cochrane of Ferguslie.

Cochrane died in August 1717, leaving a son and five daughters. He was succeeded by his son Thomas, later the 6th Earl of Dundonald.

References

References

1. (1866). "A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire". Harrison.
2. (1916). "The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom: Dacre to Dysart". St. Catherine Press, Limited.
3. "COCHRANE, William (aft.1659-1717), of Kilmaronock, Dunbarton.". History of Parliament.
4. (1882). "''Members of Parliament, Scotland 1357-1882''". Hazell, Watson and Viney.
5. "Past Chiefs – Clan Cochrane Society of North America". [[Clan Cochrane.
6. Mosley, Charles, editor. ''Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes.'' [[Wilmington, Delaware]], [[U.S.A.]]: [[Burke's Peerage]] (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003, volume 1, page 1225.
7. "COCHRANE, William (aft.1659-1717), of Kilmaronock, Dunbarton.". [[History of Parliament Online]].