Civil War Union Army General. He studied law first at Union College, Schenectady, NY, but then graduated from Hamilton College in 1831 and was admitted to the bar in 1834. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he became a Colonel commanding the First United States Chasseurs (65th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment), which he commanded in the Peninsular Campaign. He was one of two Brigadier Generals who went to see President Lincoln to tell him that General Ambrose Burnside was incompetent, after Burnside's disastrous attack at Fredericksburg. In July 1862, he was brevetted a brigadier general of volunteers, but resigned his commission in June 1863, due to failing health. Before that date, he had commanded a brigade under Brigadier General John Newton of the VI Corps, and it was this brigade that was present at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Cochrane had also argued for the removal of Ambrose Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac. In 1863, Alexander Shaler replaced Cochrane as commander of the brigade. Cochrane became New York State Attorney General from 1864 to 1865. In 1864, he was nominated by the Radical Republicans for the vice-presidency on the ticket with John C. Frémont against incumbent Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson and Democratic nominee George McClellan, but Frémont soon withdrew. Cochrane was a delegate to the 1868 Republican National Convention. In 1872 and 1873, he was President of the Common Council of New York City. As such, he was Acting Mayor of New York when Mayor A. Oakley Hall temporarily retired during the Tweed investigation. He died at his home at 7 East Sixty-Second Street in Manhattan.
Civil War Union Army General. He studied law first at Union College, Schenectady, NY, but then graduated from Hamilton College in 1831 and was admitted to the bar in 1834. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he became a Colonel commanding the First United States Chasseurs (65th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment), which he commanded in the Peninsular Campaign. He was one of two Brigadier Generals who went to see President Lincoln to tell him that General Ambrose Burnside was incompetent, after Burnside's disastrous attack at Fredericksburg. In July 1862, he was brevetted a brigadier general of volunteers, but resigned his commission in June 1863, due to failing health. Before that date, he had commanded a brigade under Brigadier General John Newton of the VI Corps, and it was this brigade that was present at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Cochrane had also argued for the removal of Ambrose Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac. In 1863, Alexander Shaler replaced Cochrane as commander of the brigade. Cochrane became New York State Attorney General from 1864 to 1865. In 1864, he was nominated by the Radical Republicans for the vice-presidency on the ticket with John C. Frémont against incumbent Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson and Democratic nominee George McClellan, but Frémont soon withdrew. Cochrane was a delegate to the 1868 Republican National Convention. In 1872 and 1873, he was President of the Common Council of New York City. As such, he was Acting Mayor of New York when Mayor A. Oakley Hall temporarily retired during the Tweed investigation. He died at his home at 7 East Sixty-Second Street in Manhattan.
Bio by: Mark Bodnar
Gravesite Details
Civil War General, New York State Attorney General, ran for Vice President with John Fremont opposing Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson
Family Members
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