William Cochran, born at Strathearn

Strathearn

Strathearn or Strath Earn is the strath of the River Earn, in Scotland. It extends from Loch Earn in Perth and Kinross to the River Tay....

 in Clydesdale

Clydesdale

Clydesdale was formerly one of nineteen local government districts in the Strathclyde region of Scotland.The district was formed by the Local Government Act 1973 from part of the former county of Lanarkshire: namely the burghs of Biggar and Lanark and the First, Second and Third Districts...

, in 1738, received bis first instruction at the Academy of Painting at Glasgow, founded by the two celebrated printers, Robert

Robert Foulis (printer)

Robert Foulis was a Scottish printer and publisher.-Biography:Robert Foulis was born the son of a maltman. He was apprenticed to a barber, but was encouraged to become a publisher by Francis Hutcheson who was impressed by his ability...

 and Andrew Foulis

Andrew Foulis

Andrew Foulis was a Scottish printer, brother of Robert Foulis. They worked in partnership as printers to the University of Glasgow.-Biography:...

. About 1761 he went to Italy and studied under Gavin Hamilton

Gavin Hamilton (artist)

Gavin Hamilton was a Scottish neoclassical history painterwho is more widely remembered for his hunts for antiquities in the neighborhood of Rome...

, and on his return to Glasgow about 1766 he practised portrait painting both in oil and miniature. Some pieces from fable, executed by him when at Rome, are to be found in
Glasgow. He was a modest artist, and never exhibited his works, nor put his name to them. He died at Glasgow in 1785, and was buried in the cathedral

Glasgow Cathedral

The church commonly known as Glasgow Cathedral is the Church of Scotland High Kirk of Glasgow otherwise known as St. Mungo's Cathedral.The other cathedrals in Glasgow are:* The Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew...

, where a monument was erected to his memory.