Theodore Groves transferred to the Dauntless six months after his promotion from midshipman to lieutenant. He had been crew aboard HMS Odessa for two years and promoted to midshipman by Captain Richard Banks, who took kindly to him for his energetic nature and swiftness in learning. Theodore had a way with the men that Banks recognized as a good quality for leadership, and sought to nurture it.
After two years as midshipman, Theodore made his first attempt at the lieutenants examination under Banks’ suggestion. Although he did get his questions correct and in admirable time, he was deemed too naive for leadership at his tender age ( Theodore was, after all, merely sixteen years old ) and he was disqualified due to the fact his peppy nature was deemed unbecoming of an officer.
Though Theodore had no desire for the role of lieutenant, he deeply admired his captain and had no wish to prove his recommendation wrong. Eight months later, Theodore tried yet again for his test with a markedly different approach in behaviour.
Despite missing the six month mark as Odessa was far to sea at the time, Theodore was both determined and serious throughout the whole of his examination and behaved with remarkable aplomb ( Helped, perhaps, by a lack of nerves in general. )
He made lieutenant due to the fact his overseers were more interested in capability than personality, and despite being only seventeen his wit under pressure was deemed serviceable. Unfortunately, as Odessa already had four lieutenants on board, Theodore was transferred to HMS Deliverance under the command of Captain Benjamin Langsley.
Captain Langsley had a very different approach to command and was quite heavy with corporal punishment. Theodore, despite his rank, was flogged twice under his command – his fellow lieutenants facing the lash just as much, if not quite a bit more in the case of the first lieutenant, Horace Dash.
Langsley took a particular dislike to Horace and frequently turned to the other lieutenants to ridicule him as well – it was Theodore’s refusal to do so that lead him to the wrong side of his temperate captain. However he was always openly apologetic and quick to help afterward – never showing any of the typical signs of bitterness or anger, which soothed Langsley’s temper with him easily enough. ( Notably, Theodore also apologized to the man who had to lash him, knowing it was not his choice, and unlikely something the man wanted to do. )
Thankfully, Deliverance caught herself a prize ship before too much damage could be done. Theodore’s impossibly bright nature preserved despite the conditions, and as he was the lieutenant Langsley felt was the ‘least troublesome’, he was cast to deliver the ship to port and retrieve his orders there.
It was upon docking the prize in Port Royal that he received his transfer to the Dauntless, at the age of eighteen. As of CotBP, he would have served her for nearly six years.
Ocean Archive 