1809 Thomas Cochrane, Spain and the Basque Roads Artwork

Hanging with History

The first season focuses on the origins of the Industrial Revolution or the Great Enrichment, we go deep into history to gain enough background knowledge to actually understand the various theories of the origins of the Great Enrichment. Eventually we learn that we also need to know how the miracle was consolidated, as the many other close approaches to the Industrial Revolution failed.A kwirky style, but intellectually ambitious with the goal of understanding history well enough to understand the miracle that happened that one time. It's gonna be a long series.

All Episodes

Hanging with History

1809 Thomas Cochrane, Spain and the Basque Roads

July 30, 2025 • Harald Hansen • Season 1 • Episode 182

You can send me a text if you have a comment or question

We cover resistance to the French invasion of Catalonia in 1808. What can a lone frigate do? And then the battle of the Basque Roads (in Western France near Roquefort) where very unorthodox fireship tactics were used, French loses were high, but it could have been an annihilation victory except for…well, are we looking at the very worst traits of the Royal Navy?

Captain Thomas Cochrane has the perfect set of adventures to illustrate this whole issue and what an active Royal Navy frigate could do to help local Spanish, though they might prefer to be called Catalonians, resist the French.

Cochrane we have met before (he is Jack Aubrey, but real), as a young master and commander, he and the crew of his 14 gun brig, Speedy, took the 32 gun Spanish xebec frigate the El Gamo. Boarded her, defeated the 6 times larger crew and captured her, bringing her back to port as a prize. What should have been a beautiful relationship between the young captain and the senior admiral Jervis, turned bitter and sour as the Admiral’s actions were properly correct procedurally rather than warm and generous, as might be expected to reward a once in a millennium level of accomplishment.