# Brierly — Lord Jim character guide

> Brierly in Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Big Brierly, poor Captain Brierly, Captain Brierly, the late Captain Brierly, Montague Brierly

**First appearance:** 0007-vi

## Who they are

A successful sea captain who serves on the inquiry into Jim's Patna case.

## In the story

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lord_jim_se/chapters/iii)

Not present in this chapter.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lord_jim_se/chapters/vi)

Captain who commits suicide after the inquiry; reveals his contempt for Jim and his own hidden guilt.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lord_jim_se/chapters/vii)

Mentioned as sharing a contemptuous opinion of the court of inquiry, influencing Jim's view of the proceedings.

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lord_jim_se/chapters/viii)

Present at the inquiry, questioning the helmsmen through an interpreter.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lord_jim_se/chapters/xii)

Brierly is mentioned as the one who suggested the simple explanation for why the Patna's lights were not seen from the lifeboat, helping the court resolve that question.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lord_jim_se/chapters/xiii)

Brierly is mentioned as the source of the plan of evasion that Marlow offers to Jim.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lord_jim_se/chapters/xiv)

Brierly is present at the inquiry, talking easily with the magistrate after the verdict is read.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lord_jim_se/chapters/xxi)

Marlow quotes Brierly's remark about Jim: 'Let him creep twenty feet underground and stay there.'

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lord_jim_se/characters/brierly
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lord_jim_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lord_jim_se/characters