Maconachie

Alexander Maconochie (1787-1860), naval officer, geographer, and penal reformer, was born on 11 February 1787 at Edinburgh, the son of Alexander M’Konochie (the son adopted the present spelling in 1832) who was a legal agent and in 1791 succeeded Adam Smith on the Board of Customs for Scotland.

Brought up by a kinsman, Allan Maconochie, Lord Meadowbank, he received some legal training, but in 1803 entered the navy as a first-class volunteer, becoming a midshipman in 1804. He was on active service during the Napoleonic wars, and in 1810 was a lieutenant on the brig Grasshopper when it ran aground and surrendered to the Dutch.

Handed over to the French, Maconochie was held prisoner of war at Verdun until Napoleon’s abdication in 1814. He re-joined the navy and saw active service in the war against the United States at the capture of Washington and the assaults on New Orleans.

After being in command of two vessels as a lieutenant-commander, he was paid off in 1815 and placed on the reserve list. In 1855 he was retired from the navy with the rank of captain.