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mad_maddox (1487771)

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The Seafaring Adventures of...
A Man of War...

Name:

James Maddox

Location:

Plymouth, HMS Element, United Kingdom

Birthdate:

07-20

LJ Talk:

mad_maddox

livejournal.com (Jabber)

Bio:

Commander James Henry Maddox, Captain of the 20-gun British Navy Corvette HMS Element, fights the seemingly endless war against France and the tyranny and empire of Napoleon Bonaparte. Though Captain Maddox is an able seaman, briliant and tenacious tactician, and much beloved by his crew, he does not enjoy navy life. Far from it, in fact. The man simply hates the navy, and is not even a great fan of England.

Maddox was born in 1777 in Boston, during the Revolutionary War. He was raised a patriot with a sense of duty and honor, but his stern father could not shake him of his rebelious side. Henry Maddox, James's father, was a semi-successful businessman of Boston and in 1791 journied to England to conduct his affairs overseas. Young James, just 14 at the time, became enamoured with the heroics of sea life, as many young boys do. This was, of course, an easy thing to accomplish from the comforts of a stately cabin aboard a passenger ship, and while in London, despite his father's warnings, young James ventured down to the docks of the Thames to smell the scents of the navy and watch the ships load and unload their cargo. What James was not aware of was just across the Channel, rebelious Frogs had murdered their king plunging the British Isle into war. James was unaware of the source of the ensuing comotion and did not notice the press gang creeping up from behind.

Pressed as an able seaman aboard the Frigate H.M.S. Indignant, young James made many enemies, but also many friends, not the least of which was the Captain, Horrace Bluster.

Henry Maddox, with little influence and means, could not save his son from serving in His Majesty's Navy, but scraping together what last coin he could, he was able to purchase James's promotion to midshipman, giving his son the gift of a life as an officer. This was, unfortunatly, the last give Henry could ever give his son, at least until the end of the war.

James Maddox, as an American, was not well liked by the Admiralty, but though his own courage, capability and steadfast determination to fight for justice no matter what flag waved above his head, he rose through the ranks of the British Navy. His sometimes obtuse tactics, and poorly hid resentment of his life earned him the nickname Mad Maddox.

Though he never gained a liking for sea life, he had never had the chance to gain a liking for anything else. He was a man who only did the job he was pressed to do.

The Adventures of J. Henry Maddox are written by M. Gallagher, who's livejournal can be found at