(1778 - 1849)
James Pattison Cockburn was born in New York, the son of Colonel John Cockburn. He entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich in 1793, the day after his 14th birthday. There Cockburn studied landscape drawing under Paul Sandby. He left two years later as a second lieutenant of the Royal Artillery. Whilst located in the many countries he was posted to throughout his career, he made numerous drawings and watercolours of the scenery. These resulted in the publication of collections of his views, including ‘Views of the Valley of Aosta’ (1822), ‘Pompeii Illustrated’ (1829) and ‘The Falls of Niagara’ (1833). Cockburn’s final promotion was to Major-General on 9 November 1846. He died shortly afterwards, at his home at Woolwich Common, Kent.
