# Lieutenant Jaspar Hobson — The Fur Country character guide > Lieutenant Jaspar Hobson in The Fur Country by Jules Verne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Jaspar Hobson, Lieutenant Hobson, the Lieutenant, Hobson, Jaspar, Lieutenant, Jasper Hobson, Mr. Hobson **First appearance:** 0001-the-fur-country ## Snapshot A slight, iron-willed Hudson's Bay officer of forty, bred in the Rockies, chosen to plant Fort Hope on the Arctic coast and hold it. ## Who they are Hobson is the expedition's commander, a Company child whose self-control was forged young and whose courage is quiet rather than showy. He carries the weight of every decision, weighing ambition against the lives of the men and women who trust him, and he never spares himself while granting others rest. His judgment and endurance make him the axis on which the colony's survival turns as the Arctic closes in. ## In the story ### [The Fur Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/the-fur-country) Likely the leader of the expedition, introduced in the context of the fur country. ### [A Soiree at Fort Reliance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-i-a-soiree-at-fort-reliance) Introduced as the commander of the upcoming expedition to explore the northern shores of the Great Bear Lake and found a fort; described as a brave and intelligent officer, a 'child of the Company.' ### [II: The Hudson’s Bay Fur Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-ii-the-hudson-s-bay-fur-company) Praised by Captain Craventy as a determined officer tasked with establishing a northern fort. ### [A Savant Thawed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-iii-a-savant-thawed) Orders snow friction to revive Black; leads the upcoming expedition. ### [A Factory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-iv-a-factory) Commanding the expedition; praised for his zeal and devotion, he oversees all preparations and is determined to overcome any obstacle. ### [From Fort Reliance to Fort Enterprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-v-from-fort-reliance-to-fort-enterprise) Leads the expedition from Fort Reliance, directs the caravan northwest, and discusses the mission's importance with Sergeant Long. ### [A Wapiti Duel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-vi-a-wapiti-duel) Leads the expedition, expresses love for the Arctic winter and predicts difficulties from the thaw. ### [VII: The Arctic Circle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-vii-the-arctic-circle) Urges the dogs onward, anxious to reach Fort Confidence; consults with Sergeant Long; orders halt and directs digging of snow houses. ### [The Great Bear Lake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-viii-the-great-bear-lake) Leads the expedition, changes route westward, and visits the Hare Indian camp to gather intelligence about the Arctic coast. ### [A Storm on the Lake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-ix-a-storm-on-the-lake) Struggles to navigate the storm, attempts to save Mrs. Barnett, and is rescued by Eskimo. ### [A Retrospect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-x-a-retrospect) Leads the expedition, shares historical knowledge of the Hudson's Bay Company's explorations, and guides the party down the Coppermine River. ### [Along the Coast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xi-along-the-coast) Leads the exploration, assessing game, fuel, and the abandoned encampment; decides to rest at Coronation Gulf before heading to Cape Bathurst. ### [XII: The Midnight Sun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xii-the-midnight-sun) Leads the expedition, decides to wait for astronomical observations, and names the river and harbor after Mrs. Barnett. ### [Fort Hope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-fort-hope) Leads the construction and exploration efforts, determines the fort's site, and names the territory Victoria Land. ### [Some Excursions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xiv-some-excursions) Oversees the fortification and hunting parties, noting the abundance of bears and wolves. ### [Fifteen Miles from Cape Bathurst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xv-fifteen-miles-from-cape-bathurst) Leads the hunting expedition, observes the tides with concern, and climbs the cliffs to survey the terrain. ### [XVI: Two Shots](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xvi-two-shots) Leads the hunting expedition and confronts the rival Canadian hunter over territorial rights and the fox. ### [The Approach of Winter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xvii-the-approach-of-winter) Observes the lack of tidal movement and organizes winter preparations, including setting traps and urging the colony to dress warmly. ### [The Polar Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xviii-the-polar-night) Insists on keeping the door shut during the storm, records the daily journal, and discusses the 'pole of cold' with Mrs. Barnett. ### [A Neighbourly Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xix-a-neighbourly-visit) Oversees the clearing of snow and construction of a reindeer trap; observes the geological structure of the ground; interacts with the Eskimo family and attempts to communicate with them. ### [Mercury Freezes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xx-mercury-freezes) Worried about the cold, fuel supply, and volcanic rumblings; leads the colony with concern. ### [The Large Polar Bears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xxi-the-large-polar-bears) Leads the defense against the bears, organizes the removal of furs, and ultimately decides to attack when the stove pipes are broken. ### [Five Months More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xxii-five-months-more) Observes the earthquake's effects, oversees repairs, and discusses the changing landscape with Mrs. Barnett and Sergeant Long. ### [XXIII: The Eclipse of the 18th July 1860](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xxiii-the-eclipse-of-the-18th-july-1860) Expresses deep unease about the uncanny nature of Cape Bathurst, noting the absence of stones, the clear-cut coast, and anomalously low tides; he confides his presentiments to Mrs. Barnett. ### [A Floating Fort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-i-a-floating-fort) Reveals the truth about the floating island and decides to conceal it from the men. ### [Where Are We?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-where-are-we) Leads the discussion about the island's drift, studies the chart of Arctic currents, and urges secrecy to avoid alarming the colonists. ### [A Tour of the Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-a-tour-of-the-island) Leads the tour of the island, discusses the island's doomed fate and the Eskimo's foreknowledge, and plans to use birds as messengers. ### [A Night Encampment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-iv-a-night-encampment) Leads the exploration, expresses unease about the island's thin ice and instability, and rescues Sergeant Long from the water. ### [V: From July 25th to August 20th](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-v-from-july-25th-to-august-20th) Struggles with the secret of the island's sinking; insists on keeping the truth from the men; anxiously awaits winter. ### [VI: Ten Days of Tempest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-vi-ten-days-of-tempest) Anxious about the island's stability; secretly plans a dangerous reconnaissance to the south with Sergeant Long to check for land. ### [A Fire and a Cry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-vii-a-fire-and-a-cry) Leads the perilous expedition to Cape Michael during the hurricane, reasoning that the wind may have driven the island toward the coast; lights a signal fire and hears a cry from the sea. ### [Mrs. Paulina Barnett's Excursion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-viii-mrs-paulina-barnett-s-excursion) Explores the coast with Sergeant Long, observes the widening gulf and ice breakup, and concludes the island is drifting away from the mainland. ### [Kalumah’s Adventures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-ix-kalumah-s-adventures) Mentioned as having lit a signal fire seen by Kalumah; not directly present in the chapter. ### [X: The Kamchatka Current](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-x-the-kamchatka-current) Observes the island's displacement and northward drift with dismay; discusses the situation with Mrs. Barnett and Sergeant Long; watches the formation of young ice with extreme attention. ### [A Communication from Lieutenant Hobson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xi-a-communication-from-lieutenant-hobson) Decides to abandon Fort Hope and lead the colonists across the ice; reveals the truth to the group. ### [A Chance to Be Tried](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xii-a-chance-to-be-tried) Leads the preparations for the ice crossing, reveals the truth to the colonists, and assesses the dangerous ice conditions with Mrs. Barnett. ### [XIII: Across the Ice Field](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii-across-the-ice-field) Leads the expedition across the ice field, demonstrates courage and prudence, and ultimately decides to turn back when the crossing proves impossible. ### [The Winter Months](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv-the-winter-months) Oversees winter preparations, economizes oil, takes stellar observations, and spares the visiting polar bear. ### [The Last Exploring Expedition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xv-the-last-exploring-expedition) Leads the expedition and discusses the thaw and island drift with Mrs. Barnett. ### [The Breakup of the Ice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xvi-the-breakup-of-the-ice) Takes daily altitude observations, discusses the island's drift with Mrs. Barnett, and grows uneasy about the direction of the ice breakup. ### [The Avalanche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii-the-avalanche) Leads the exploration of the ice field and returns to find the fort destroyed by an avalanche. ### [All at Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xviii-all-at-work) Organizes the rescue effort, questions Mac-Nab about the house's strength, and listens for sounds from the buried victims. ### [XIX: Bering Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xix-bering-sea) Takes bearings of the island, determines its position in Norton Sound, concludes that hope of making the continent is lost, and orders construction of a raft. ### [In the Offing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xx-in-the-offing) Presses construction of the raft, takes bearings, and consults with the men about whether to abandon the island. ### [The Island Becomes and Islet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xxi-the-island-becomes-and-islet) Takes bearings, calls meetings, inspects the raft, and decides on the evacuation plan despite the emotional attachment to the island. ### [The Four Following Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xxii-the-four-following-days) Leads the reconnaissance of the shrinking islet and tries to maintain order among the despairing colonists. ### [On a Piece of Ice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiii-on-a-piece-of-ice) Remains heroic and decisive, suggesting the sail and leading efforts to save the colonists. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv-conclusion) Leads the group to safety and expresses deep gratitude to Mrs. Barnett. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/characters/jaspar_hobson - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/characters