Arthur Cartwright
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| Portrayed by Lee Ingleby | |
| Full Name | Arthur Francis Cartwright |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 1786 |
| Father | Sir John Cartwright |
| Mother | Lady Henrietta Cartwright (née Houghton) |
| Town Residence | 4 Cumberland Place |
| Branch of the Military | Royal Marines |
| Ship or Regiment | Late of HMS Terpsichore |
| Currently Enlisted? | Yes |
| Enlistment Date | 1806 |
| Current or Final Rank (if retired) | Captain |
| Major Engagements | Siege of Rosas (1808), Oporto (1809) |
Captain Cartwright is a serving officer in the Royal Marines and belongs to the 58th Company of the Chatham Division. He is the only son of Sir John and Lady Henrietta Cartwright and has only one sister, Mary. Said sister married a Royal Navy lieutenant named George Adair in 1805, whose ship is presently on the North Sea station.
Arthur was born in Essex, incidentally at the home of the Marquess of Buckingham, for whom Sir John was private secretary. His parents had a suite of rooms for their use at Gosfield Hall and it was here that Arthur came into the world. Sir John had a house of his own in nearby Braintree and he removed his newly-expanded family there after Arthur's birth. Soon, however, they all relocated to Dublin when the marquess was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Arthur's early childhood was spent running from his Irish nurse and annoying both his mother and older sister.
Like his father, he went to Eton, where his youthful waywardness was gradually tamed. He struck a deal with his father that, in exchange for Arthur's going to Oxford, Sir John (or more accurately, Lord Buckingham) would use his influence to secure the lad a commission in the Royal Marines. His father felt this was a waste of his son's potential but agreed. After graduating Oxford, where he'd studied the Classics, Arthur received his promised commission. He was a second lieutenant and assigned to the Chatham Division. His time at Chatham was short, only six months, during which he learned drill and how to march, was trained to handle a flintlock musket without shooting off his own feet, and did a few turns in charge of the guard.
He went to sea in HMS Fame of 74 guns, which had just completed fitting out at Woolwich Dockyard, as a junior Marine officer. Fame had orders for the Mediterranean and was present at the Siege of Rosas, where she assisted in the evacuation of the British garrison. In February 1809, Arthur was promoted to first lieutenant and a few months later was transferred to HMS Terpsichore of 32 guns. He took over command of the frigate's Royal Marine detachment after the previous officer broke his leg ashore. To all accounts, Lieutenant Brandeson was less than effectual as an officer, preferring to lose himself in a wine bottle than look after his men.
Arthur distinguished himself in the naval landings at Oporto, chiefly by leading a mixed party of seamen and Marines up a sewer drain in an attempt to reach a French-held fort's powder magazine and blow it up. Despite being separated from his party, Arthur managed to draw French fire his way and allow the demolition party to carry out its task. He was gazetted captain for his conduct, a promotion later confirmed by the Admiralty. Afterward, he was transferred to HMS Scryer, another frigate, but this ship was lost to French wreckers on its way to Constantinople. The Scryers who survived and evaded capture were rescued by Terpsichore. Arthur eventually replaced the lieutenant who'd replaced him, when the unfortunate lieutenant fell ill and had to be sent to Gibraltar.
He thus commanded the Terpsichore's Marines for rest of the frigate's time in the Mediterranean. The ship made something of a name for herself amongst the French, chiefly for her successful raids on various coast-based naval and military targets. Terpsichore returned to Chatham in early 1811, where her crew was paid off and her Marines sent back to their division. In order to avoid the agony of drill and mounting guard, Arthur applied for leave and made tracks for London, where he's since joined his family for the Season.
Personality
In a Corps that manages promotion primarily on the basis of seniority rather than purchase, Arthur has done well for himself so far. His swift rise means he will remain a captain for some years, however. He's content with that, as it means he can avoid being consigned to a staff appointment or a posting aboard a lumbering ship of the line. Arthur is very much an officer who prefers to be where the action is, and the action is invariably found at sea aboard a frigate, or, in a pinch, a third-rate. He hopes fervently that after his period of leave expires, his name will have moved up enough in the sea-duty roster that he can claim a berth aboard a ship bound for sea.
Arthur is a progressive thinker in many respects, particularly with regard to discipline and leadership. He loathes the idea of corporal punishment, in particular the use of the cat-o-nine tails. In nearly six years of service, he has only sent one of his men to the grating. He is also a firm believer in the importance of equality when it comes to sharing of danger or risk, or even mundane responsibility. If it is a task his men must do, nine times in ten, he will do it as well. Of course, he has established himself as a man who will be the first one leaping out of a boat in a shore raid or onto an enemy's deck during a boarding action. It is, after all, his duty as an officer to lead his men.
Despite his family's connections to men of influence, he is remarkably independent. It irks him to consider taking advantage of patronage of any stripe. The prizes taken by his last ship have lined his pockets reasonably well and he feels this is how it should be. Any benefit in his life should be earned by his own efforts, not by riding the coat tails of somebody else. This aversion to relying on patronage has not harmed his career so far, fortunately, though he has yet to encounter a situation that may require 'name-dropping', so to speak. The few scrapes he's gotten himself into, he's managed to get himself out of again.
As might be expected of an officer with his record, Arthur is not short on courage or daring. Nor is he given to self-promotion. He feels that making much of his own conduct lessens the contributions of others and he has never cared much for that. Alongside his modesty is a strong assertiveness. He won't talk himself up but neither will he let himself be walked over. There is nothing to be gained by being a pushover, whether with his men or with superior officers. Arthur can be stunningly stubborn when he feels he has cause to be, and when that cause is his Marines, the sky has a better chance of falling than he does of giving ground.
His temper is hard to provoke but when it's been sparked, it can be fearsome. Arthur is not one given to violence when angry; rather, he tends toward an impulsiveness which in a calmer frame of mind he would never show. The only man he ever had flogged earned his sentence because of that unthinking reaction. That the Marine perhaps deserved what he got pales beside the private shame of being so quick to resort to a form of punishment he so dislikes. He has closely watched his temper since, so something like that may never happen again. What he has not abandoned is his ability to correct behaviour by forceful spoken word. Indeed, any of his Marines who've been the victim of it can attest to the captain's ability to verbally crush a man.
Which is not to say Arthur is a harsh man. Far from it. His usual demeanour is cheerful and easy-going, perhaps with a dash of playful mischief in the right company. He likes a good time, within reason. Moderation is a big thing for him. Mostly. On the handful of occasions he's let a good time carry his good senses away, he has wholeheartedly regretted it afterward. Thus, Arthur keeps a careful eye on what he drinks and in what quantity, even at the risk of being accused of temperance. His sense of self-control does him credit more often than not, but on occasion it makes him appear just a little rigid and perhaps even impolite.
Threads
- 14th May: Rapt Audiences, at the ridotto, conversation with Jemima Palmer.
- 14th May: A Night Out, at the ridotto, with Rebecca Sterne.
- 15th May, morning: Early Birds, calling on Bee Rosdew.
- 15th May: An Unexpected Visitor, calling on the Careys.
- 15th May: The Lady of the House, the Haverleighs' Party, receving line.
- 15th May: The Days Of Wine And Roses, the Haverleighs' Party, wtih Charlie Devenish.
- 16th May: They have their exits and their entrances, the Fitzgerald Ball, the receiving line.
- 16th May: A Fool on the Sideline, the Fitzgerald Ball, conversation with Colonel Fitzgerald. (First dance.)
- 16th May: My Friends Are My Estate, the Fitzgerald Ball, conversation with Adrian Carey. (Third dance.)
- 16th May: Dance Your Cares Away, the Fitzgerald Ball, dance with Emily Grey. (Fourth dance.)
- 16th May: 'Tis Little I Could Care For Pearls, the Fitzgerald Ball, dance with Bee Rosdew. (Fifth dance.)
- 16th May: Bring Me The Sunset In A Cup, the Fitzgerald Ball, conversation with Captain Reynolds. (Sixth dance.)
Arthur is a former character belonging to and played by Doc.
