Frank Cowper

Frank Cowper, M.A. Oxon.
Born(1849-01-14)14 January 1849
London, England
Died28 May 1930(1930-05-28) (aged 81)
St Cross, Winchester,
Hampshire, England
Occupation
  • Yachtsman
  • writer
  • illustrator
  • journalist
  • novelist
  • historian
NationalityEnglish
EducationAldenham; Brentwood; Blackheath Proprietary School
Alma materThe Queen's College, Oxford
Period1870–1930
GenreTravelogue, novel, non-fiction
Notable worksSailing Tours series
The Captain of the Wight
Xmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk
SpouseE. E. Cowper
Children10, including Frank Cadogan Cowper
Ink on paper illustration of a sailboat
Lady Harvey on Loch Goil. An illustration of Cowper's yacht, by the author, from his book Jack-All-Alone.

Francis Cowper (14 January 1849[1][note 1] – 28 May 1930)[3] was an English single-handed yachtsman, explorer, author, illustrator, artist, and journalist who was influential in popularizing single-handed cruising.[3] He has been credited as "the forefather of modern cruising",[4] following the publication of his five books, Sailing Tours, describing his circumnavigation of the British Isles, the East coast of Ireland, and the French coast of Brittany in a converted 29-ton, 48-foot Dover Fishing boat named Lady Harvey. In a review of the last of his sailing books published in the year of his passing, recognition of his achievements during and after his eventful life are summarized with the following accolades. His books "laid the foundation" of the pilot guides used by yachtsmen today.[5]

  1. ^ Peter Howard Cadogan. "Family of Catherine Croom Lovegrove and Henry Cooper". Peter Cadogan's Family History. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Baptism-FCowper was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "Obituary: Frank Cowper". The Yachting Monthly. Vol. XLIX, no. 291. July 1930. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  4. ^ Stickland, Katy (1 June 2023). "Frank Cowper - the sailor who "invented" cruising". Practical Boat Owner. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  5. ^ Meakins, Ben (22 December 2014). "Frank Cowper - the forefather of modern cruising". Practical Boat Owner. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.


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