Master and commander

October sees the opening of a new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland charting the life of Scotsman Admiral Lord Cochrane, the inspiration behind classic books and films of adventure on the high seas such as Master and Commander, Captain Horatio Hornblower and Mr Midshipman Easy.

The exhibition uses some of Cochrane's personal possessions to focus on his rise to fame, his fall from grace and his eventual rise in fortunes once more, as well as examining his roles as radical politician, naval hero, innovator and inventor.

Admiral Cochrane: The Real Master and Commander is on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh from 7 October–19 February 2012 and admission is free. To find out more about the exhibition, visit the National Museums Scotland website.