The late Early of Dundonald - from a photograph by Maull and Polyblank, 1860. In 1809, Lord Cochrane was selected by the First Lord of the Admiralty, on account of his daring valour, to command a fleet of fire-ships intended for the destruction of the French fleet then lying at anchor, and blockaded by Lord Gambier, in the Basque Roads...he went on board one of the explosion-ships containing 1500 barrels of gunpowder, and performed the hazardous service most effectually. For his signal gallantry on this occasion he received the Knighthood of the Bath. He had been chosen M.P. first for Honiton, and afterwards, in 1807, for Westminster...In the early part of 1814 Lord Cochrane was charged with being implicated in a fraud committed by one Charles Random de Berenger...His banner was ejected from Westminster Abbey, and his name was removed from the Navy List. Thus England punished herself by losing the subsequent services of her naval hero...In 1830 Lord Dundonald was reinstated in his rank in the British Navy, and...was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the North American and West Indian Station in 1848...He long ago invented a project for blowing up and annihilating fleets, which was submitted to the Government. From "Illustrated London News", 1860.