Jeremy Rankin

Jeremy Rankin is a British aviator serving in the Aerial Corps of both Britain and Australia, and as the captain of Levitas and Caesar.

In His Majesty's Service
In 1805 Captain Rankin and his Winchester courier dragon were stationed at Loch Laggan, where he

met Captain William Laurence. The two formed a quick friendship, Laurence noticing that, like him, Rankin was ostracized and treated coldly by the other aviators, the cause of which he took to be Rankin's high social standing as the third son of the Earl of Kensington. In the early days of their acquaintance the two would often talk over dinner and play chess in the officers club, with Rankin even offering Laurence advice and flying him to Edinburgh. Eventually; however, he found out the disdain of the other officers was due to the neglectful and abusive way Rankin had with his dragon, Levitas. Very quickly the two came into conflict, with Laurence going over Rankin's head to make sure Levitas was comfortable and happy until Rankin complained to Celeritas, the training master.

On many occasions Rankin would verbally abuse Levitas and would always neglect his care and comfort; never having him cleaned and always leaving him in the harness. Levitas; however, was raised to this behavior and thought nothing of it, adoring Rankin absolutely. Eventually, Captain Laurence and his dragon, Temeraire, were moved to Dover, and Rankin continued in his courier duties. Late in 1805, prior to the Battle of Dover, Rankin and Levitas were scouting the French coast and were able to get behind enemy lines, securing key intelligence about the massive troop carrying dragon platforms Napoleon Bonaparte was building for his attempted invasion of England, but were both wounded in the process, Rankin taking minor wounds to his arm and Levitas taking fatal ones. They were able to make their way back to Dover, where Rankin was able to make his report to Admiral Lenton.

Tensions between him and Captain Laurence, at this point, came to a head. Deciding to seek comfort in the officers club while Levitas lay dying of his wounds Rankin was forced, and dragged, by Laurence to the dragon's side. Forced to compliment Levitas during the Winchester's final moments, Rankin's few words of kindness were insincere, though they made his dragons last few moments easier.

Following the death of his dragon, Admiral Lenton thought himself forced to put Rankin to a newly hatching Winchester due to the influence of the Rankin family, though changed his mind to Hollin, Temeraire's ground crew master, on Laurence's advice.

Family
Rankin was the third and youngest son of the Earl of Kensington, head of the influential Rankin family who, as a matter of tradition, always sent third sons to the Aerial Corps.

Indeed, Rankin's grandfather, of unknown name, was the first captain of Loch Laggan's training master Celeritas and his son, presumably Rankin's uncle, was Celeritas' second.