William Laurence
Character Profile
| Name: | William Laurence |
| Date of Birth: | |
| Service: | Aerial Corps, formerly Navy |
| Rank: | Captain |
| Nationality: | British |
| Billets: | HMS Shorewise, Lieutenant HMS Goliath HMS Reliant, Captain Loch Laggan Covert, captain to Temeraire |
Biography
A gentleman's son, he went to sea at the age of 12. Served on first or second rate ships of the line for most of his career, and won considerable prize money.
He enjoyed society, and the prospect of leaving it for the life of an aviator daunted him.
Has two (older?) brothers and three nephews.
Prior to becoming an aviator, Laurence had the prospect of marriage to Edith Galman, but was not formally engaged. He was 4 years her senior.
At the beginning of His Majesty's Dragon, he had been away from England for most of the past four years.
Served at the Battle of the Nile on the HMS Goliath.
Visited Rome as a boy.
As a young lieutenant at the age of 17, he served on the HMS Shorewise under Captain Barstowe, a coarse man who had risen through the ranks to become captain. He was conscious of his own lack of social graces and took his resentment out on those who made him feel that lack, such as young Laurence, whom he punished mercilessly.
