Personal data
Basil Cochrane
Born 1701   Died October 2, 1788  
Commissioner Cochrane

Son of William Cochrane of Ochiltree, and Mary Bruce. Brother of James Boswell's maternal grandmother, Euphemia (d. 1721). Longtime army officer. Governor of the Isle of Man (1751-1761). Commissioner of Excise in Scotland (1761), Commissioner of Customs in Scotland (1764).

Boswell breakfasted with Cochrane, "a man of great common sense and prudence"1, on October 30, 1762. Cochrane was Boswell's grand-uncle, and the two had a fairly close relationship.

    Hon. Basil Cochrane; James Edgar; a beggar (etching at the National Portrait Ga…

    Unless otherwise noted, the source for a dated quotation of Boswell's is generally the corresponding volume of the Yale Trade Editions of Boswell's journals.