See also Recurring characters in the Aubrey–Maturin series
British:
- Jack Aubrey - Former Captain of HMS Leopard .
- Stephen Maturin - ship's surgeon, friend to Jack and an intelligence officer.
- Sophia Aubrey - Jack's wife and mother of their three children.
- Diana Villiers - love interest of Stephen and cousin of Sophia, living in Boston with Johnson.
- Barret Bonden - the captain's coxswain.
- Preserved Killick - Aubrey's ever loyal servant.
- Babbington - 1st lieutenant in the Leopard .
- Captain Moore - commands the Marines in the Leopard .
- Mr Foreshaw - young midshipman on the Leopard , killed in the battle aboard the Java .
- George Byron, originally a Midshipmen on HMS Leopard , acting fourth lieutenant after the epidemic. He brings his temporary commission papers with him fleeing the burning ship.
- Faster Doudle - prime seamen on Leopard, played as wicket keeper in the cricket match cut short by arrival of La Flèche
- Admiral Drury - admiral on station at Pulo Batang in the Dutch East Indies.
- Wallis - British intelligence at Pulo Batang, Maturin meets with him.
- Captain Yorke - captain of HMS La Flèche .
- Warner - 1st lieutenant in La Flèche .
- McLean - young Scottish ship's surgeon in La Flèche , also a skilled anatomist.
- Captain Henry Lambert - captain of HMS Java .
- Chads - 1st lieutenant in Java .
- General Hislop - Governor-designate of Bombay aboard the Java .
- Captain Philip Broke - captain of the Shannon.
- Watt - 1st lieutenant in the Shannon , killed in the action.
- Mr Jack - surgeon in the Shannon .
American:
- Michael Herapath - Once Maturin's assistant on the Leopard , he ran from Desolation Island with Mrs Wogan aboard an American whaler; now living in Boston, studying to be a doctor.
- Mrs Louisa Wogan - an attractive young woman, American spy arrested in England, living with Herapath and their daughter in Boston.
- George Herapath - father of Michael and grandfather of little Caroline, a loyalist in the US Revolutionary War, reconciled to the new country, successful Boston merchant especially in trade with China.
- Otis P. Choate - Doctor in Boston who runs the Asclepia, a small private hospital where Aubrey recuperates.
- Henry (Harry) Johnson - Wealthy American from Maryland travelling with Diana, keeps slaves; much involved with US policy and spying. Last seen by Maturin leaving Diana’s house in Alipur (India)
- Evans - surgeon in the USS Constitution .
- Commodore Bainbridge - commander of the USS Constitution .
- Jahleel Brenton - of the American Navy Department, with the same name as a recent Baronet in the British Royal Navy, Captain Jahleel Brenton. This led to Aubrey believing him a psychiatric patient on his first visit.
- Captain James Lawrence - captain of the US Chesapeake immediately before the ship engaged with the Shannon ; previously captain of the Hornet .
French:
- Jean-Paul Pontet-Canet - tall Frenchman travelling to America from San Salvador on the USS Constitution ; Maturin met him years before near Toulon, during the Peace of Amiens.
- Jean Dubreuil - French spy in Boston, first seen by Maturin in European capitals.
