# Richard Shandon — The Adventures of Captain Hatteras character guide > Richard Shandon in The Adventures of Captain Hatteras by Jules Verne. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Shandon, Mr. Shandon, Commander Richard Shandon **First appearance:** 0001-i-the-forward ## Snapshot The Forward's first officer, a capable sailor who believed he would command the expedition until a stranger took the helm and never explained why. ## Who they are Shandon outfitted the Forward and expected to lead her, only to find himself subordinate to a captain who reveals nothing and demands everything. His cold, correct obedience — 'I have only to obey' — masks a growing sense of having been used, and he openly doubts Hatteras's claims about an ice-free polar sea. The crew's discontent finds a natural focus in him, whether he invites it or not. He matters because his grievance is the expedition's fault line: the moment private ambition and public obedience stop agreeing. ## Relationships ### [John Hatteras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/john_hatteras) _rivalry_ Hatteras and Shandon are in a tense rivalry, as Shandon resents Hatteras's command and eventually mutinies against him. ### [Dr. Clawbonny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/dr_clawbonny) _professional_ Clawbonny and Shandon are colleagues on the expedition, but their relationship is strained by Shandon's growing antagonism toward Hatteras. ### [Johnson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/johnson) _professional_ Johnson and Shandon have a professional relationship as shipmates, but Johnson remains loyal to Hatteras while Shandon becomes mutinous. ### [James Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/james_wall) _professional_ James Wall is a subordinate officer to Shandon, and they share a professional but complicit relationship in the mutiny plot. ### [Johnson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/johnson) _professional_ Johnson and Shandon have a professional relationship as shipmates, but Johnson remains loyal to Hatteras while Shandon becomes mutinous. ### [Dr. Clawbonny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/dr_clawbonny) _professional_ Clawbonny and Shandon are colleagues on the expedition, but their relationship is strained by Shandon's growing antagonism toward Hatteras. ### [John Hatteras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/john_hatteras) _rivalry_ Hatteras and Shandon are in a tense rivalry, as Shandon resents Hatteras's command and eventually mutinies against him. ### [Dr. Clawbonny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/dr_clawbonny) _professional_ Clawbonny and Shandon are colleagues on the expedition, but their relationship is strained by Shandon's growing antagonism toward Hatteras. ### [John Hatteras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/john_hatteras) _rivalry_ Hatteras and Shandon are in a tense rivalry, as Shandon resents Hatteras's command and eventually mutinies against him. ### [James Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/james_wall) _professional_ James Wall is a subordinate officer to Shandon, and they share a professional but complicit relationship in the mutiny plot. ### [James Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/james_wall) _professional_ James Wall is a subordinate officer to Shandon, and they share a professional but complicit relationship in the mutiny plot. ### [Johnson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/johnson) _professional_ Johnson and Shandon have a professional relationship as shipmates, but Johnson remains loyal to Hatteras while Shandon becomes mutinous. ## In the story ### [Part I: The English at the North Pole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/part-i-the-english-at-the-north-pole) Commander of the Forward, receives the mysterious letter and oversees the ship's preparation. ### [The Forward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/i-the-forward) Superintends the arrangement of the cargo with precision and expertise. ### [An Unexpected Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/ii-an-unexpected-letter) Receives the unexpected letter offering him the position of mate on the Forward. ### [Dr. Clawbonny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/iii-dr-clawbonny) Commander of the Forward; accepts the mysterious commission and begins building the ship and selecting a crew. ### [The Dog-Captain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/iv-the-dog-captain) Commander of the Forward, anxious about the missing captain and the crew's morale; decides to sail despite no letter, then receives orders from the dog. ### [At Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/v-at-sea) Commands the ship with some skepticism about the mysterious captain; evaluates the crew's strengths and weaknesses. ### [VI: The Great Polar Current](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/vi-the-great-polar-current) Commands the Forward, navigates through ice and current, orders sail adjustments and distribution of cold-weather gear. ### [VII: The Entrance of Davis Strait](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/vii-the-entrance-of-davis-strait) Commands the ship, reads divine service, and oversees navigation through the ice while snatching sleep when possible. ### [The Talk of the Crew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/viii-the-talk-of-the-crew) Commands the Forward, navigating through ice and utilizing favorable conditions to advance north. ### [Another Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/ix-another-letter) Finds the second letter and reads it to the crew, despite Johnson's advice to keep it secret. ### [X: Dangerous Sailing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/x-dangerous-sailing) Leads the shore party to Upernavik, questions the Governor about a mysterious European, and grows increasingly anxious about the lack of contact. Later, he struggles with the ice and the crew's wavering confidence. ### [XI: The Devil’s Thumb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xi-the-devil-s-thumb) The commander, absent during the mutinous plotting, later returns to find the dog missing but hesitates to punish the crew. He attempts to navigate the ship through a newly discovered passage. ### [Captain Hatteras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xii-captain-hatteras) Commander of the Forward, chosen by Hatteras; struggles to maintain authority during the mutiny and the ice trap. ### [The Captain's Plans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xiii-the-captain-s-plans) Coldly obeys Hatteras but is clearly offended by his diminished command; questions the feasibility of an open polar sea and remains skeptical. ### [XV: The Forward Driven Southward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xv-the-forward-driven-southward) Maintains a cold silence and distances himself from Hatteras, blaming his obstinacy for the lack of safety measures. ### [The Magnetic Pole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xvi-the-magnetic-pole) Shandon takes observations with Wall and is aware of Hatteras's failed hopes, though he remains on deck during the storm. ### [XVIII: The Way Northward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xviii-the-way-northward) Expresses bitterness and predicts Hatteras's failure; refuses to warn the captain about the coal shortage. ### [A Whale in Sight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xix-a-whale-in-sight) Comments on the danger of the whale hunt, warning against foolhardiness. ### [XX: Beechey Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xx-beechey-island) Accompanies Hatteras ashore; suggests retreat after the depot is found empty, but is rebuffed. ### [The Death of Bellot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxi-the-death-of-bellot) Shandon recounts the dangers faced by the American ships Rescue and Advance, and later describes Belcher's abandonment of the Assistance, fueling crew discontent. ### [The First Signs of Mutiny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxii-the-first-signs-of-mutiny) Hesitates to enforce Hatteras's orders and expresses doubt about the open polar sea to Wall. ### [Attacked by the Ice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxiii-attacked-by-the-ice) Undermines Hatteras's authority by allowing the crew to discuss mutiny; hints that he would be a better captain. ### [The Last Piece of Coal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxvi-the-last-piece-of-coal) Experiences early symptoms of scurvy but recovers through exercise. He is forced into the common-room after the stove in the after-room is put out. ### [The Great Cold at Christmas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxvii-the-great-cold-at-christmas) Shandon confronts Hatteras about the lack of fire, speaking with grim irony; he supports the idea of burning the ship for fuel. ### [Preparations for Departure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxviii-preparations-for-departure) Left out of the expedition; shows an ironical smile as Hatteras departs. ### [Part II: The Desert of Ice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/part-ii-the-desert-of-ice) Struggles with the crew's discontent and the challenges of navigating the ice desert. ### [Return to the South](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxvi-return-to-the-south) Found dead among the frozen bodies of the Forward crew in a ravine. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/richard_shandon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters