Mr. Higgins, Surgeon's Mate

Mr. Higgins, Surgeon's Mate is a fictional individual from the movies, Master & Commander: Bis ans Ende der Welt. Mr. Higgins, Surgeon's Mate is performed by means of Richard McCabe.

Why does the young guy that explores the island with the health practitioner speak about the gap across the island in miles as opposed to kilometers?

Even to at the moment the mile is the unit of measurement used within the UK for distances of travel and is trendy on all street signs. In training inside the UK the metric device is taught and consequently maximum cutting-edge British human beings can with ease use either unit.At the time of the story the kilometre had best these days (1799) been postulated in France and turned into now not yet in use. The time period might had been completely unknown to a Royal Navy sailor, even a nicely knowledgeable officer as the young guy changed into.As well, navies could use 'nautical' miles, which can be barely exclusive than terrestrial miles.

Which books form the premise of the film?

Many fundamental plot strains are mixed together from "Master and Commander" and "The Far Side of the World" by way of Patrick O'Brian. However, several incidents and characters are plucked from different books in the 'canon' (the 20 volumes of the Aubrey-Maturin tale) as properly. Some of the characters are composites, taken from numerous human beings in the books. Many elements (a few very important) to the characters do no longer come out within the film and bodily characteristics or even characterisations (in particular in the case of Stephen Maturin and Barrett Bonden) are very exclusive within the books.

What are the books inside the shows?

Master and Commander (1969) Post Captain (1972) H.M.S. Surprise (1973) The Mauritius Command (1977) Desolation Island (1978) The Fortune of War (1979) The Surgeon's Mate (1980) The Ionian Mission (1981) Treason's Harbour (1983) The Far Side of the World (1984) The Reverse of the Medal (1986) The Letter of Marque (1988) The Thirteen Gun Salute (1989) The Nutmeg of Consolation (1991) Clarissa Oakes, renamed The Truelove within the United States of America (1992) The Wine-Dark Sea (1993) The Commodore (1994) The Yellow Admiral (1996) The Hundred Days (1998) Blue on the Mizzen (1999) And finally there's an unfinished ebook, to be had as a fragment underneath the title The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey or Twenty-one.

What is meant via Master and Commander? (and different questions on rank)

A master and commander is a term for an officer one step below post-captain, they may be given instructions of ships, however aren't certainly a true captain; that is because in the event that they don't have any deliver to command, then they're not paid nor have a name. While put up-captain is usually known as a captain, whether or not they have got a ship to command or not. In 1794 it dropped the master and and turned into referred to as simple commander.The first ebook of the series, set within 1800, has Jack Aubrey newly-promoted to grasp and commander and appointed to command the sloop HMS Sophie. Patrick OBrian did not get this wrong because even though in 1794 the RN dropped the master and and the rank became known as absolutely commander, the rank changed into nevertheless known as grasp and commander. The film, by means of following the same identify makes the identical mistake, as Jack is a Post Captain.A commander could by no means be located in charge of a brig which became a lieutenants command, but the minute he took command of a brig-rigged vessel it have become automatically a sloop.A submit ship (requiring a post captain) became any vessel with 20 guns or more, which can consist of unrated vessels as well as frigates and line-of-battle ships. A frigate like HMS Surprise isn't always a master and commander's command at all but that of a submit captain. Jack is depicted as a post captain of extra than three years seniority as he wears epaulettes. In the books he handiest attains the rank in 1803 and in 1805 ought to most effective have had an epaulette on his proper shoulder. A commanders epaulette changed into worn on the left shoulder.Any commissioned officer in everlasting command of a deliver (even a lieutenant) might be referred to as "captain" by using courtesy. This also applied to the ones within temporary command of a vessel, inclusive of prizes.In the e-book The Far Side of the World, Pullings is a commander with out a deliver and comes alongside for the ride.The grasp become a warrant officer responsible directly to the captain for the navigation of the vessel. He would con the vessel within battle, leaving the captain unfastened to make preventing choices. He changed into junior to all the lieutenants within idea, however normally massively more skilled and turned into one of the three warrant officers that messed within the wardroom. The others were the purser (in rate of victualling) and the physician.Each vessel additionally had three standing warrant officers who often stayed with the vessel among commissions. These had been the boatswain (mentioned bosun) who become in fee of the sails and rigging, the gunner and the carpenter.

I dont apprehend the weevil joke.

A weevil is an insect that regularly lived in the deliver's biscuit. There is a announcing in English which you should "pick out the lesser of two evils." Basically it manner that if there are bad things to pick from, you must pick the one that does not seem quite as terrible. The shaggy dog story is a pun, due to the fact " weevils" and " evils" sound comparable, and "lesser of weevils" appears like "lesser of evils". An instance of the saying comes up whilst Warley is washed overboard at some point of the typhoon; Warley is swimming toward the wreckage that is being dragged by using the ship, however the wreckage changed into also dragging the deliver and causing it to sink. So the alternatives had been to look forward to Warley to swim to the wreckage and get him to climb up the ropes if you want to try to rescue him (which might take a sizable quantity of time) and probably dooming the whole ship and crew or to sacrifice Warley via cutting the ropes tied to the wreckage and unfastened the ship. One preference risks the complete crew and the alternative condemns a person to die. The latter being the lesser of two evils. (or weevils as Aubrey jests)

What became that brown stuff they ate and took place as being the Galapagos islands? It appeared horrendous.

It is a Floating Island (or alternatively, within this example, an entire Floating Archipelago shaped just like the Galapagos).Floating Island became a well-known English pudding dish within the 18th century; it was made with the aid of growing an "island" out of layers of light cake (or bread), jam and jelly [it truly is "jelly" within the British sense, i.e. Jello] and surrounding it with a "sea" of cream (which could have been overwhelmed up with lemon juice, sherry and sugar) or thin custard.It turned into conventional to decorate one's Floating Island to look like a actual island, with sprigs of greenery for bushes, cream for snow mountains, and many others. As Jack's Floating Archipelago represents the Galapagos, which might be barren and brown, they have been protected with a topping of custard, icing or cream, colored with some thing brown; maximum probable chocolate. Chocolate changed into no longer yet eaten in stable shape, but it become famous as a warm drink and to make chocolate-flavoured desserts.There was also a French dish called "Ile Flottante" which consisted of a moulded meringue "island" within a custard sea. This version ousted the native Floating Island from the British culinary repertoire in the nineteenth century (although all of the additives of the Floating Island continue to exist to this day in "trifle", a traditional British dish).In Jack Aubrey's time both version might have been served on board a British ship. There could be no issue getting cream, eggs and milk for custard and meringue, for the reason that Captain would have shipped privately-owned chickens and more than one goats, or even a cow, to ensure a deliver of milk.The officials paid for his or her own meals. They would hire one among their wide variety wardroom caterer, positioned as a lot coins as they could find the money for and positioned it into a kitty from which he might buy resources for the voyage. He might probable buy some chickens, and a nanny goat to give milk. The captain could deliver his personal resources on board with him, which have been no longer only for him however allowed him to ask his officers to dinner. Most of what is being eaten at that dinner will were paid for by using Captain Aubrey.The officers ate higher meals than the scores' rations, however most effective due to the fact they'd catered and paid for it themselves. If the voyage lasted lengthy enough with out going right into a port in which they might re-inventory, while the captain's and the wardroom shops ran out they lived on exactly the equal rations as the men.

Why had been there children on board HMS Surprise?

The Royal Navy changed into one vicinity for orphans to earn a residing and acquire everyday and applicable food and housing -- no longer a whole lot with the aid of ultra-modern standards, but one have to always preserve in mind the situations within orphanages and paintings-homes within the ones instances. When Charles Dickens painted their grisly reality inside the nineteenth century (take a look at out Oliver Twist and Bleak House) he was really softening up his personal first-hand stories.Life at sea might simply had been an improvement on the ones situations. While those kids and young adults have been genuinely within harm's manner, they have been equally so within existence on land (life at sea being tons noticeably a long way healthier than existence in poverty on shore), and within times of warfare, they had been as probable to be recruited into the regular army as every body else. Also, one need to understand that the great a lot of the ships in the RN, even as definitely ready to combat at a second's observe, did no longer truely have interaction the enemy throughout most of the conflict - the blocking off fleets off the coast of Brest, La Rochelle, Cadiz, Toulon or anyplace else the Admiralty felt the want for them, spend limitless months or even years cruising just off the French fleet's harbours, bold them to pop out, within useless. So in reality, whilst these children were a part of a preventing unit they never noticed motion. People, which includes dad and mom, had been very a whole lot aware of this.Also, the ones "powder monkeys" and cabin boys acquired a very casual, however none the much less as an alternative effective apprenticeship as seaman, enabling them to work as in a position rated team members later in life in both the RN and the merchant marine. Certainly better. or as a minimum greater proper, than a existence as an unskilled labourer or even a vagrant on land, although one's private mileage may also range in this. On a extra cloth notice, it must be mentioned that even a cabin-boy or powder monkey (if they have been on the books, that is the group's listing) shared within prize cash for any ship's or belongings captured and ship domestic. Which could, even for a single full-size prize, regularly be more than one (or numerous) years wages. so definitely the position wasn't that badly paid either. Not that one had a whole lot chance to spend the cash anyway, being at sea most of the time.As for the midshipmen and officer applicants, eligibility for lieutenancy become determined through seniority, that is time spend aboard a RN deliver and "on-the-books". Hence, to skip the applicable tests someday around the eighteenth to 20th birthday, prior to which six years minimal (regularly more) needed to be spend aboard gaining each sensible and theoretical expertise of nautical talents, you needed to be around twelve years or even younger (few captains might without a doubt permit children of less than a dozen years aboard) to attain it. and stand a danger to Make publish captain at any affordable age at all.Also, permit's please remember that in the 18th and nineteenth century formal education (if any) changed into an awful lot shorter and apprenticeships started out tons earlier and lasted distinctively longer than in recent times, it being very not unusual that youngsters of twelve plus years left domestic to enter an apprenticeship, regularly pretty a distance from home. If they had been so fortunate as to go into an apprenticeship and not in reality input a household as a basically unskilled servant/maid, or work the farm of their dad and mom (or their respective landlords). And of route, many youngsters worked Alongside their mother and father a long way in advance than that, relying on career and nearby poverty (like the Yorkshire mines). The concept of a included, sheltered and at ease childhood (with many liberties pretty unthinkable within the 18th century) lasting up to the stop of puberty is a idea of the Victorian age (for the center and upper training at least) and the early twentieth century, which has very tons altered our belief of the whole subject.

Did the Royal Navy returned then permit black sailors identical popularity with the whites?

Black seamen have been dealt with much like white ones, and all the lower-deck scores were open to them. There become no legit bar to their becoming officials; the barrier changed into greater a query of class and schooling than race. In the mid-18th century Navy it were quite common for "common sailors" to make their way up "on to the quarterdeck" and emerge as commissioned officials. By the Napoleonic wars this was turning into a great deal rarer, and maximum of the few who did control it were men who had had an affordable education and a few social know-how before becoming a member of the Navy; i.e. had been center-magnificence in beginning. In the character of things, only a few black sailors would have started out out with these advantages.The National Archives (United Kingdom) write: "The 'Annual Register' for 1815 well-knownshows that a Black sailor, William Brown, 'currently' paid off from HMS Queen Charlotte with the relaxation of the crew, became a lady. It turned into no longer exceptional inside the 18th and 19th centuries for ladies to hide themselves as men and be a part of the Royal Navy - and some even controlled to serve on this manner for decades. (...)It is recorded, within the extract reproduced right here, that 21-yr-old William Brown from Grenada joined the team of the Queen Charlotte on 23 May 1815 as a landsman (the least experienced elegance of rating) and became discharged on 19 June 1815, 'being a woman.' " (source:

What came about next within the books?

The books did no longer follow this plot line in any respect. There is no Acheron in the books. The Far Side of the World is ready within 1813 and HMS Surprise is chasing United States Norfolk within the battle of 1812. But there's no struggle among them.

What is the identify of the duet played by using Jack and Stephen on the stop of the film? (and different questions about the soundtrack)

It is Boccherini's La Musica Notturna Delle Strade Di Madrid No. 6, Op. 30. It is in fact at the soundtrack, however now not readily reputedly so, because the final piece of track adjustments tack sharply after about four minutes and deviates from the previous piece immediately into this song. Amazon.co.uk has samples from the soundtrack which can assist to discover different pieces of music you heard in the film:

So, is Stephen Maturin an "Evolutionist"?

Well, yes. And at the same time, a convincing No.The belief of evolution became already around by means of the end of the 18th century, having been suggested by way of - among others - Lamarck and Charles Darwin's very own grandfather, Erasmus Darwin. So on the time of M&C, lots of naturalists might be speculating that organisms had changed and tailored over time. What Charles Darwin supplied half of a century later became the factor all his predecessors had didn't - a coherent rationalization of just how evolution happens. The funny story within M&C of course, is that Stephen visits the Galapagos and collects many of the specimens which later provided Darwin with the evidence he wished for his principle, but is then compelled to abandon them and depart empty-passed.You have to also take into account that perception in God at that point turned into as everyday as eating and respiratory. Virtually no person entertained any notions of Atheism or even suggesting that God might not most effective now not exist, but became not wanted for lifestyles to procreate and evolve. Even though evolution changed into incredibly "in the air" as early as 1805, it took Darwin some twenty years to work up the courage to submit what he knew would be subversive to the church and believers in fashionable. He had conceived the idea of evolution thru herbal selection in 1839... --however didn't put up it until 1859.By 1859 the idea of evolution was no longer most effective inside the air, however became getting ready to being postulated by means of some other scientists as nicely. The Wikipedia has more at the ancient development of the idea of evolution:

Why did the French Captain conceal himself?

The technical term for such actions is "ruse de guerre," or "trick of war". An honourable combat could honestly consist of now not combating underneath false Pretexts (like underneath a fake flag or betrayal through allied troops), but Could maximum simply consist of the usage of ruses, disguises, ambushes and Obfuscations.Witness Aubrey disguising the "Surprise" as a whaler to entice the French In, or using a decoy to draw off the "Acheron", while it has the Dominating function in a combat. He even as soon as (inside the books) sails his Vastly weaker command "HMS Sophie" within beneath the weapons of his soon to be Boarded enemy by means of flying the flag of a neutral United States , however could be very careful To haul down the deceptive colorations before starting fire, having Now tons much less to worry from the enemy's broadside.And the sole medical doctor aboard a prize for Valparaiso could maximum sincerely Be called upon to deal with clinical emergencies and look into the healing Method of wounds for each facets aboard the prize, French or British, Because, under the Hippocratic oath, they wouldn't raise a weapon or Purpose undue pain to everyone beneath their care or supervision, a paciifism Normally extending even into different regions of existence. Which " de Vigny" of Route isn't tormented by both.It all boils down to honour. Once a person has Surrendered and thereby given his word of honour to desist from antagonistic Motion (until freed or exchanged as a prisoner of war ), he cannot Destroy this vow besides by way of losing all and any respect as someone.Which, very a whole lot, the French captain has not. He goes into "hiding" with the aid of Claiming to be the harmless and decrease ranked physician, in no way having to Provide his non-public give up that manner, and as such, not endangering his Honour. Which is a ruse, so not anything defaming or nefarious about it, From a perspective of "honour". It's really clever and taking benefit Of a magnanimous attitude and assumptions via Aubrey.Which within a manner is wonderfully ironic, due to the fact Aubrey has just before Pulled the the wool over his eyes by means of disguising the "Surprise", now he Returns the favour through disguising as a 'innocent' health practitioner.

I do not apprehend the finishing.

In the final scene, Maturin well-knownshows that the medical doctor of the Acheron died a while back, which have to imply that the man claiming to be the physician became likely the captain (or the perhaps the captain could be hiding someplace at the Acheron).The implication is that the captain can also try to retake manipulate of the Acheron, possibly killing Pullings and a number of his prize team inside the system.The French captain has already proven himself to be a crafty and succesful opponent over the previous months. As installed leader of the French crew he will be in a good role to steer an uprising in opposition to the prize team - doubly so if the British are unaware the French have succesful leadership. Furthermore, as a "medical doctor" he might be allowed comparatively easy get entry to to the wounded and captives. This is specially proper due to the fact he may not have given his phrase of honour as an officer no longer to soak up hands in opposition to the positive British team and subsequently no longer be sure through any terms of truce or restraint as a gentleman. In essence, as a long way as honour is worried (and this is all that matters), he has never surrendered nor foresworn violence against his victorious foes. Since he's the French commander neither has his unit, which serves below him, and which follows his orders exclusively.From his factor of view, the "Acheron" hasn't surrendered in any respect, but most effective lulled the "Surprise" into a flawed experience of victory and protection. Of direction, uprisings might arise irrespective of honour, but officials (and gents) were expected to put into effect the binding nature in their non-public give up onto their crew as commanding officers. And, because the French doctor (a warrant officer position), could no longer be kept inside the hold or under decks like normal group, however allowed comparably unfastened reign of the Acheron, permitting him to engineer a way for his group to break out their quarters (inclusive of unbolting hatches and doing away with guards posted, soaking guns and many others.) and/or preclude any tries of resistance made through the unlucky prize crew thru distraction, violence or subterfuge.Aubrey consequently decides that HMS Surprise will need to trade direction and escort Acheron. But Aubrey does not absolutely seem to be very involved. In fact it seems that he is taking this direction of motion most effective as a precaution and, within any occasion, we see that the Acheron is handiest approximately three miles away are not going to were retaken yet.Another point to note is that Valparaiso in 1805 turned into Spanish territory and Spain became at war with Great Britain, which means that it became now not a place to which a prize may be taken and refitted as advised.

Will there be a sequel?

Noframe knows. Though the primary asset, the ship, is still available, twentieth Century Fox offered it to the Maritime Museum of San Diego in 2007. There were heaps of rumours, however not anything tangible.

What role does Billy Boyd play?

He plays the a part of Barret Bonden, the captains coxswain, and spends numerous his time on the helm or combating along Jack in warfare. In the books he is a huge, bruising prize-fighter with many war scars. You might also experience that Billy Boyd does now not fit this description.

Literature list (interesting books on the period, ships and different topics, which have been mentioned on the board)

The Social History of The Navy, 1793-1815, by Michael Lewis That would possibly sound stodgy, but agree with me, it isnt. In this ebook Lewis (who Changed into a prominent naval scholar, Professor of History on the Royal Naval College at Greenwich) sincerely sets out the hierarchy of a Nelsonian-length naval ships crew, explaining who did what and how they Ranked socially and professionally; he additionally researched into the Backgrounds of the people on board, showing what their social and Geographical origins were in all likelihood to be. Its complete of splendidly Characterful anecdotes. It become at the beginning aired 1960 and you can Nicely find a second-hand copy sculling round; if not, it has these days been Reprinted. Its 100% really worth tracking down, I promise you. (Syntinen). (Hardback, ca. 25 £)Nelson's Navy, with the aid of Brian Lavery This is a comprehensive description of the ships, the guys and naval Agency within the period 1793-1815. It has a full list of primary And secondary assets. (Cliff)The Wooden World by way of N.A.M. Rogers Comparable to the e book by means of Michael Lewis, this ebook describes the Social global of the Georgian Navy (round 1760). It is a chunk greater readable, at least For my part (and now not as thick, most effective available as paperback, ca. 10 £)Men O'War. The Illustrated story of existence within Nelson's Navy. through Peter Goodwin. A ebook inside the identical vein as the three above, however extra inside the style of a Coffeetable e book, i.e. with lots of illustrations (paintings, Photographies, charts, and so forth.). Not as comprehensive, however still Informative and a terrific start. (LookinGood)(Hardback, ca 15 £)Two Years Before the Mast with the aid of Richard Henry Dana These are the memoirs of a young Bostonian who signed on to a service provider deliver as a not unusual seaman. It takes place a few a long time after (1834) the start of the Aubrey-Maturn series, but as the narrative of a member of the top class settling right into a life of skilled but difficult labour, is superb for giving us an impression of what it was like. Dana additionally consists of a glossary of nautical terms. Paperback $16 on Amazon, but old copies cheap. (megabigBLUR) This ebook is also to be had within translations from English.

Richard McCabe expected Net Worth, Salary, Income. How rich is Richard McCabe after performed as Mr. Higgins, Surgeon's Mate.

Richard McCabe's salary of taking part within Master & Commander: Bis ans Ende der Welt is $23.5K .

It is an approximate forecast of ways wealthy is Richard McCabe.

In April 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars, H.M.S. Surprise, a British frigate, is under the command of Captain Jack Aubrey. Aubrey and the Surprise's current orders are to track and capture or destroy a French privateer named Acheron. The Acheron is currently in the Atlantic off South America headed toward the Pacific in order to extend Napoleon's reach of the wars. This task will be a difficult one as Aubrey quickly learns in an initial battle with the Acheron that it is a bigger and faster ship than the Surprise, which puts the Surprise at a disadvantage. Aubrey's single-mindedness in this seemingly impossible pursuit puts him at odds with the Surprise's doctor and naturalist, Stephen Maturin, who is also Aubrey's most trusted advisor on board and closest friend. Facing other internal obstacles which have resulted in what they consider a string of bad luck, Aubrey ultimately uses Maturin's scientific exploits to figure out a way to achieve his and the ship's seemingly impossible goal.