See also Recurring characters in the Aubrey–Maturin series
Halifax
- Jack Aubrey: Captain recently escaped as prisoner of war of the Americans, learns his next ship was assigned to another captain.
- Stephen Maturin: Ship's surgeon, physician, natural philosopher, friend to Jack and intelligence officer.
- Diana Villiers: Cousin to Sophia, and the love of Stephen's life, who becomes his wife.
- Mr Wallis: Lieutenant in command of HMS Shannon coming into Halifax.
- Mr Falkiner: Lieutenant in command of the prize, USS Chesapeake , coming into Halifax.
- Philip Broke: Captain of the Shannon , seriously injured from head wounds from the battle with Chesapeake .
- Admiral Colpoys: Port admiral in Halifax for the Royal Navy.
- Lady Harriet Colpoys: Wife of the admiral, accepts Mrs. Villiers as house guest, and hosts a ball to celebrate the victory.
- Major Beck: Army intelligence office in Halifax, who read the papers Maturin collected.
- James Lawrence: Captain of the USS Chesapeake , died en route to Halifax from his wounds in the battle, where the British buried him.
- Miss Amanda Smith: Attractive and deceptive woman who pursues Aubrey in Halifax.
- Mr Dalgleish: Owner and captain of the hired mail courier Diligence sailing out of Halifax.
England
- Sophia Aubrey: Jack's wife and mother of their three children.
- Mr. Kimber: The schemer (projector) with a process to recover the lead and silver from“valuable dross” on Aubrey’s land, now unwanted by Aubrey and pursued by his lawyer.
- General Aubrey: Jack's father, recently associating with the Radical party in Parliament, teaching his grandchildren how to campaign and to vote at Ashgrove Cottage, but not much use to his son's career.
- Sir Joseph Blaine: Senior figure at the Admiralty and Maturin's spymaster.
- Pompeu Ponsich: Famed Catalonian scholar sent on the sloop Daphne by Blaine to meet Colonel d'Ullastret at Grismholm Island.
- Skinner: Lawyer recommended by Sir Joseph to help Aubrey with the projector Kimber.
- Andrew Wray: Once cheated Aubrey at cards, now appointed acting 2nd secretary of the Navy.
- Mrs Broad: Owner of The Grapes in the Savoy, where Maturin keeps rooms.
- James Grant: Was first lieutenant in the Leopard after Recife, parted in boats before reaching Desolation Island and returned safely to England. On return, he has received no other ships. He blames Aubrey, denying the Dutch 74 gun ship sunk by the Leopard was armed, blocking prize money.
Sailing the Baltic Sea
- Gedymin Jagiello: Young handsome Lithuanian cavalry officer, seconded to the Admiralty from the Swedish army. He is useful to the mission, bright, cheerful, but dismisses the frequent attention of women, as he would need to find one with whom he could be friends, the true link between people.
- Mr Hyde: First lieutenant on the Ariel as Aubrey is captain for the mission in the Baltic. He works hard, but Aubrey judges him not a born seaman. He makes errors with words in commands on occasion.
- Mr Pellworm: Pilot who knows the Baltic well, and sails with the Ariel in those waters, on board before Aubrey arrived, and dropped off at Deal on return. He quotes poetry freely.
- Ramon d'Ullastret i Casademon: Catalan colonel at Grimsholm Island and Stephen Maturin's godfather.
- Admiral Sir James Saumarez: Vice-Admiral of the Royal Navy's Baltic Fleet at Carlscrona.
- General Mercier: French general on his way, with Colonel Ligier, to Grimsholm to deal with the situation of breakdown of command, under orders from Ouidinot. Mercier and Ligier escape the beached Minnie on a boat, which Ariel shatters.
- The Gentleman's Relish: A Swedish actress who entered Jagiello's cabin when he was out, very much unwanted.
- Mr Smithson: Most senior captain of the troop carriers, directed by Aubrey to sail on to Santandero (Santander, Spain) on the Spanish coast of the Bay of Biscay.
France
- Monsieur Duhamel: French secret agent, preparing for the possible defeat of the emperor. He negotiates with Maturin on the terms to return to England, meeting exactly all but one, the return of the Blue Peter to its owner before they leave Paris.
- Madame Lehideux: Attractive widow who lives across from the Temple and who cooks meals, cleans clothes and sends tools for escape to the three prisoners in the Temple in Paris. Like so many women, she finds Jagiello very appealing. Once the wall goes down, the two communicate by signs.
- Major Clapier: One of the many who interrogate Maturin, in places away from the Temple in Paris, with a link to the American spy Johnson.
- Henry (Harry) Johnson: Wealthy American whose personal papers were confiscated by Maturin in Boston; he is a spy and was once lover to Mrs Villiers. He pursues his vengeance across the Atlantic, into Paris.
- William Babbington: Midshipman and lieutenant under Aubrey and now a commander. He was an admirer of Diana as midshipman during the Peace. He is captain of the packet ship HMS Oedipus .
