Jack Aubrey

Aubrey is one of two principle protagonists of the novel and shares the spotlight with his particular friend and confidant Stephen Maturin. Aubrey is a larger-than-life character with dash and charisma. He is an unchallenged and undoubted master in his element of the sea; a legendary captain, a masterful navigator, a superb tactician, and an undefeatable warrior. Although he is intelligent he relies more on experience, insight, and a nearly infallible instinct to carry him through the various perils he encounters.

Aubrey is a post captain assigned to take H.M.S. Leopard to Botany Bay, Australia, and there to retrieve the historic Captain Bligh. His sea voyage begins just in time, as Aubrey is a hopeless incompetent while ashore, speeding through his recent good fortune by investing wantonly in any number of harebrained schemes. Aubrey is married to the beautiful Sophie nee Williams and he dotes...