Commodore Jack Aubrey

Aubrey is one of the 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 recently-appointed commodore and commands a squadron of ships in their mission to capture the French-held islands of Mauritius and La Reunion. Just as Aubrey is a master at sea, he is nearly incompetent while ashore—he is usually engaged in a number of poor fiduciary choices and typically finds himself in debt and penniless. He is excited about his huge financial...