Background
John Cochran was born on September 09, 1730 in Sadsbury, Pennsylvania, United States, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His father, James, and his mother, Isabella, were akin, both Cochrans who had emigrated from Ireland.
John Cochran was born on September 09, 1730 in Sadsbury, Pennsylvania, United States, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His father, James, and his mother, Isabella, were akin, both Cochrans who had emigrated from Ireland.
John was fortunate in having his early schooling under that remarkable classical scholar and Presbyterian divine, Dr. Francis Allison; his study of "physic and surgery” was under Dr. Thompson at Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
During the French and Indian War (1754 - 63), Cochran entered the British service as surgeon’s mate in the hospital department, and was with Bradstreet when he marched against Fort Frontenac. Acquaintance with Major Philip Schuyler in this campaign led him to settle at Albany. He soon moved to New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he became one of the founders of the New Jersey Medical Society and later (1769) its president.
During the American Revolution he volunteered his assistance in the hospital service. He collaborated with Dr. Shippen in preparing a plan for establishing military hospitals that was submitted to Congress February 14, 1777. Washington observed his diligence and fidelity particularly in the case of smallpox patients and wounded soldiers, and recommended him to Congress as “highly deserving of notice, not only on account of his abilities, but for the very great assistance which he has afforded merely in the nature of a volunteer. ” He was appointed physician and surgeon-general in the middle department, April 10, 1777, and subsequently chief physician and surgeon.
He was vehement in his denunciation of the inefficiency which at first characterized the hospital department. “It grieves my soul, ” he wrote, “to see the poor, worthy, brave fellows pine away for want of a few comforts, which they have dearly earned. I shall wait on the Commander-in-Chief, and represent our situation, but I am persuaded it can have little effect, for what can he do ? He may refer the matter to Congress; they to the Medical Committee, who will probably pow-wow over it awhile and nothing more be heard of it. ” Director-General of the hospitals of the United States was the final responsibility on January 17, 1781 given to him by Congress.
His experience in British service enabled him to make great improvements in the army hospitals. The war over, he removed to New York. When Washington became president “a cheerful recollection of his (Cochran’s) past services” suggested his appointment in 1790 as commissioner of loans, and he was provided with office space in Federal Hall for this work. Finally compelled by a paralytic stroke to resign the office, he retired to Palatine, New York, where he died.
Cochran was a member of the New Jersey Medical Society.
On December 4, 1760 Cochran married Mrs. Gertrude Schuyler, widow of Peter Schuyler.