Background
Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1814, the grandson of congressman James Cochran, Dobbin attended Fayetteville Academy and the William Bingham School and later went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina in 1832.
lawyer politician representative
Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1814, the grandson of congressman James Cochran, Dobbin attended Fayetteville Academy and the William Bingham School and later went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina in 1832.
He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1835, commencing practice in Fayetteville.
Dobbin later got involved in politics and was elected a Democrat to the twenty-ninth congress, serving from 1845 to 1847. He later served in the North Carolina House of Commons in 1848, 1850 and 1852, also serving as speaker of the house in 1850. In 1852, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention where he helped secure the nomination of dark horse candidate Franklin Pierce for the presidency.
Pierce appointed Dobbin United States Secretary of the Navy as a reward for his work in the presidential campaign.
A firm believer in a strong Navy as an insurance for peace, Dobbin instituted reforms throughout the Navy. Eighteen of the finest ships of their class in the world were built during his tenure as Navy secretary.
Under his auspices, the Perry expedition to Japan was carried to a successful termination and the treaty with that country signed. He ordered United States. Navy Lieutenant Isaac Strain to command a United States. Darién Exploring Expedition to map and survey the Darién Gap for a Panama Canal to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
After his term as Navy secretary expired in 1857, Dobbin returned to Fayetteville where he eventually died later that year.
He was interred at Cross Creek Cemetery in Fayetteville. The United States Ship Dobbin (AD-3), a ship present at the attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was named in his honor.
While at Carolina, Dobbin distinguished himself as a member of Philanthropic Assembly.
