Basil Cochrane
(1817-1895)
17 June 1861

Volume 4, page 98, sitting number 4462. 

Born on 23 December 1817, Basil Cochrane was the son of Captain the Honourable Archibald Cochrane of the Royal Navy. According to his obituary, he was ‘a genuine sportsman — a keen hard rider, a clever shot, and a skilful angler.’

‘It is with great regret that we have to record the death of Mr BASIL COCHRANE, which took place on Sunday last, at his residence, St Peter’s-hill, Grantham, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. The deceased gentleman returned to Grantham for the hunting season last November, as usual, but he was not able to enjoy many days with hounds, a fall near Croxton on the way to his first meet incapacitated him for several days, after which the state of his health prevented him enduring the strain of his favourite sport. Convinced at last that his hunting days were over, his horses were sold at Leicester at the beginning of the year, and arrangements were made for a visit to the Riviera. This was not to be, however, increasing illness confining Mr Cochrane to his room in January until the end came last Sunday. Although the deceased gentleman had resided at Grantham for only two years, his winning personality had gained for him the sincere respect of all with whom he came into contact. His was a kindly, courteous character, in which amiability and frankness were predominant elements. He was always most averse to public life, and would have none of it, the only offices he filled being those of Deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace of the county of Durham.

'[…] at the age of seventeen he entered the army as Lieutenant in the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, but retired on his marriage, about the age of twenty-one, to the daughter of Col. Fitzgerald, Co. Clare, and settled down to the life of an English country gentleman. For many years the deceased lived at Ratcliffe Hall, near Syston, Leicester, in order to hunt with the Quorn hounds; he then went into Berkshire, but soon returned to “the Shires,” occupying Stamford Hall, Loughborough. During the later years of his life, he resided at Asfordy Hall, near Melton, from which he came to Grantham in 1893’ (Grantham Journal, 30 May 1895). 

Basil Edwood Arthur Cochrane died on 24 March 1895 at St Peter’s Hill, Grantham, leaving an estate valued at £24,697.