Jonathan Carver

Biography
Jonathan Carver was a midshipman aboard the HMS Reliant, under the command of Captain William Laurence and then Captain Thomas Riley.

Carver was present for the battle with the French frigate Amitie, during which Temeraire's egg was taken as a prize of war.

Carver was later present at a meeting that Captain Laurence held with the ship's officers to decide who would take on the duty of trying to take the imminently hatching dragon into harness. They all wrote their names on slips of paper that were pulled out of a hat, and Carver's name was the one pulled out.

Carver was taken off active duty, his duty shifts being covered by Lieutenant Fanshawe, and set to study dragon habits with the ship's surgeon Pollitt until the egg hatched, whereupon he stood in front of the egg and attempted to bring it into harness. Carver was; however, saved from this duty as the newly hatched dragonet decided on Captain Laurence for its companion.

Later on in the voyage, Carver joined Laurence, Captain Riley and several other senior officers for dinner.

Personality
Carver was a young officer at the time of Temeraire's hatching and Laurence noted that he had an intense fear of heights, a reason for which he had hoped to keep Carver out of the drawing altogether. This was made impossible due in no small part to Lieutenant Fanshawe.

Despite his fear, Laurence noted that he bravely wrote out his name on his slip of paper, though he had a pale face. Over the week before Temeraire's hatching, the entire crew noticed Carver's apprehension and anxiety. His hands were trembling when he tried to put the harness on Temeraire and he was relieved when Laurence was chosen instead of him.