Jack Aubrey

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John Aubrey[1] is usually known as Jack Aubrey in the Aubrey-Maturin series. One of two primary protagonists of the series, Aubrey begins the series as a Royal Navy lieutenant in Port Mahon, Minorca, in Master and Commander.

In the opening scene, Aubrey is at a concert at Governor's House in Port Mahon. He is described as "Between twenty and thirty whose big form overflowed his seat … with the silver medal of the Nile in his buttonhole … while his bright blue eyes, staring from what would have been a pink-a-white face if it had not been so deeply tanned gazed fixedly at the bow of the first violin." (Norton pg 7) He is nicknamed Goldilocks by his crew due to his long yellow hair.

Family background

Jack Aubrey is the oldest son of General Aubrey of Woolhampton in the County of Dorset. His family has been lords of the manor for generations. In The Surgeon's Mate he is said to have been 'a seventeen-year-old master's mate' on board HMS Resolution at the time of an action near Brest, and this would imply that he was born in 1774 or 1775, since such an action could only have taken place after the declaration of war against France in 1793; however, elsewhere he is said to have already gained his commission as lieutenant in 1792, and this suggests that he was born soon after 1770. His mother died when he was a small child and he was cared for by his cousin Queenie Keith.


SPOILER WARNING:  Plot or ending details for "series"  follow.

Highlights of his life and career as presented in the canon:

References

  1. O'Brian, Patrick. Treason's Harbor.(c)1983. W.W. Norton and Company, New York, NY; p. 173: Aubrey signs his letter home "your most affectionate husband, Jno Aubrey. Jno was the common abbreviation for John at the time.
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