Who is Tom Pullings from The Wine-dark Sea and what is their importance? The_Wine-Dark_Sea English & Literature Tom Pullings | The Wine-dark Sea

Pullings has served under Aubrey as a lieutenant during previous novels in the series. He eventually gained promotion to captain, largely through Aubrey's efforts. He is an enthusiastic and optimistic captain, a devoted supporter of Jack Aubrey, and an extremely capable navigator, seaman, and officer. During the novel, Pullings is appointed the official captain of Surprise in its hired capacity as ship of the Royal Navy. In fact, Pullings acts as the first lieutenant unless Aubrey is not aboard, such as when Aubrey takes Franklin out cruising. Pullings' entire reliability allows Aubrey much discretion in handling the ship and is a constant comfort to both Aubrey and Maturin. During the current novel, Maturin comments on a livid, frightful, and disfiguring scar that runs across Pulling's entire face; in fact the scar, received during a long-ago boarding action, has partially ruined Pullings' jawbone so that his mandible becomes unhinged from time to time. Maturin resets it once during the present novel. Pullings is always dependable and is an always memorable minor character.