Talk:William Laurence
Aha! A clue as to Laurence's age
In HMD, he recalls his unpleasant service on the HMS Shorewise under Captain Barstowe as a "freshly made" lieutenant of 17 (chapter 4).
During Laurence's first meeting with Hammond in TOJ (end of chapter 2) he recalls the Macartney embassy to China, which had taken place 14 years ago (1791). Laurence had been "newly made lieutenant" at that time.
Thus, if he was 17 when he was made a lieutenant, and it was 14 years ago, he is 31 now, give or take, depending on when birthdays happen. I have therefore put c. 1774 as his date of birth, until we find out otherwise.
That also gives us an idea as to Jane's approximate age -- when they first meet, he estimates that he and Jane are about the same age. That would have made her 21-ish when she had Emily.
I feel like Sherlock Holmes :)
