Major Thomas Cochrane, 8th Earl of Dundonald (1691 – 31 October 1778) was a British Army officer and politician.

He later gave evidence in court against Archibald Stewart, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, who had surrendered the city to the Jacobites.

[2] William, an army officer, had been killed at the Siege of Louisbourg, and died without issue.

He distinguished himself during the American War of Independence by carrying despatches from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord Cornwallis at the Siege of Yorktown.

[1] Thomas and Jane Cochrane's third son, John, was born in 1750; he became a prosperous contractor for the British army and navy.

Their fourth, James Atholl, was born in 1751; he entered the church, becoming vicar for Mansfield and writing a number of books on various subjects.

He rose to be admiral of the white, an MP, and a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath.

He also served in the army, reaching the rank of brigadier, sat as MP for several constituencies, and was Governor of Dominica.