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 invincible 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 initially assigned to H.M.S. Leopard. After a mission fraught with catastrophe, Aubrey leaves Leopard as that ship is to be converted to a transport. He then embarks with Maturin on a series of misadventures—the fortune of war—until being seriously injured aboard HMS Java during combat with USS Constitution. Maturin fears that Aubrey will die or...