Barrett Bonden

Barrett Bonden is a fictional character in the Aubrey/Maturin series by author Patrick O'Brian. Bonden appears in the first book of the series, Master and Commander, as the coxswain and captain of the maintop in the Sophie. Captain Aubrey approaches the young man, "a fine open-looking creature, tough without brutality, cheerful, perfectly in his place and, of course, a prime seaman - bred to the sea from childhood," and asks whether he would like to become a member of the quarter-deck. To the Captain's surprise, Bonden declines the opportunity to join the officers, promptly responding, "I ain't got the learning, sir." (p. 275).

Surviving voyage after voyage, Bonden is the most steadfast, reliable, and perhaps valuable member of the Captain's crew. His character is developed in the eighteenth book of the series, The Yellow Admiral, when the coxswain enters a prize-fight against a neighbor's head gamekeeper (Evans) near Aubrey's Woolcombe estate. Evans bests Bonden after a lengthy and bloody fight only by grabbing Bonden's beloved pigtail "and with his last remaining strength," hurling him against a corner post. Bonden recovers and continues his loyal service for the Captain, passing into the hereafter in the next book, The Hundred Days, when an unfortunate, twenty-four pound shot from a treasure-laden, African galley strikes the second gun of the Surprise's starboard broadside, which happens to be manned by Bonden (p. 263-64).