Cast of Characters

Cast of Characters

A work of historical fiction

Finnegan is a work of fiction based on events and characters of the mid-18th to the mid-19th centuries. The novel reconstructs the story of the breadfruit tree’s passage to the West Indies and imagines how the species survived and flourished. Well-known and lesser-known characters of the period play roles, alongside those invented by the author. Historical events are married to invented scenes and dialogue. Endnotes for each chapter present research gathered to inform characters and scenes.

The cast of characters

Characters are grouped according to the place where the first appear in the novel. There are those of Tahiti or nearby islands. There are the British naval officers who commanded assaults on Tahiti together with scientists and professionals on board the frigates involved. Other characters appear as HMS Providence transports in payload of potted plants to the West Indies. We meet several new characters in the vicinity of the botanical gardens in the east of Jamaica, and others across the island’s hilly interior. There are also three important personalities noted who are referred to in the novel who deserve to be listed.

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The British Navy Vessels

In all, eight frigates are involved, armed to quell resistance. For each one, its heavy armaments are specified. Each vessel also had an armoury of light arms. Also given is a frigate’s commander and the year it entered Tahiti’s waters.

His Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Dolphin attacked in 1767. She was a 24-gun sixth-rate frigate, armed with 22 nine-pounders and two three-pounders. Launched in 1751, she made two circumnavigations of the world under the successive commands of John Byron and Samuel Wallis.

HMS Endeavour was a Royal Navy research bark that James Cook commanded to Tahiti on his first voyage to the South Seas in 1769. She was armed 10 four pounders and 12 swivel guns

HMS Resolution was a sloop armed with 12 six-pounders and 12 swivels. She was under the command of James Cook on his second and third interventions on Tahiti in 1773 and 1776. On the second of these, the master was William Bligh, who later would command HMS Bounty. HMS Adventure, accompanied HMS Resolution on Cook’s second voyage armed with 10 four founders and 8 Half-pounder swivel guns

HMS Discovery was the consort ship of James Cook’s third expedition to Tahiti in 1777

His Majesty’s Armed Vessel (HMSV) Bounty was a merchant vessel on the Jamaica to London route, purchased and refitted as the Bounty for the first breadfruit expedition in 1787. She was armed with four four-pounder guns and 10 swivel guns. Joseph Banks directed the adaptation of the brig for the transportation of potted plants. William Bligh was appointed commander. Fletcher Christian was selected by Bligh as Master’s Mate. The vessel did not see Jamaica again, as intended, as she was destroyed off Pitcairn Island.

HMS Providence, a sloop-of-war of the Royal Navy, commanded by William Bligh on his second breadfruit voyage to Tahiti between 1791 and 1793, armed with ten four-pounder guns and 14 half -pounder swivel guns. Pappo and Mideedee were on board from Tahiti. HMS Assistant, a tender armed with 4 four-pounders and 8 swivel guns accompanied HMS Providence on the Tahiti expedition. Her commander was Lieutenant Nathaniel Portlock.

Stories about selected historical characters

For twenty of the cast of historical characters, short stories relate each individual to the breadfruit project of the novel. The stories are arranged in four groups.

Tahitian characters

King Pomare I, Pappo, Tupaia, Mai and Mideedee.

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Characters of African descent residing in the West Indies

Chief Satuye of St. Vincent, Owen enslaved in St. Thomas in the East, George Liele and Alexander Worthy Clerk.

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Characters associated with the British navy

James Cook, William Bligh, Fletcher Christian, Mathew Finders and Robert Brooke.

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Other British and Dutch characters

Joseph Banks, Sydney Parkinson, James Wiles, Alexander Anderson, Alexander Aikman, John McLean and Willem Alting

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Asia-Pacific fruit trees introduced

The floating forest that was HMS Providence delivered hundreds of healthy plants to St. Vincent and Jamaica. As a result, breadfruit and many new species were introduced to the West Indies, changing forever, the botanical landscape and the longings of generations of Caribbean peoples. Names ascribed to trees by Bligh and his gardeners have changed over the years.

All plants loaded on board HMS Providence and place of delivery

Fruit trees gathered in Tahiti

Fruit trees gathered in Timor