# Captain Smollett — Treasure Island character guide

> Captain Smollett in Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Smollett, Mr. Smollett, Cap'n Smollett

**First appearance:** 0011-vii-i-go-to-bristol

## Who they are

The blunt, dutiful captain who smells mutiny before the anchor lifts and refuses to sail without precautions nobody wants to hear.

## Relationships

### [Long John Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/characters/long_john_silver)

_rivalry_

Captain Smollett is a stern, honorable captain who immediately distrusts Silver and opposes his mutinous schemes.

### [Long John Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/characters/long_john_silver)

_rivalry_

Captain Smollett is a stern, honorable captain who immediately distrusts Silver and opposes his mutinous schemes.

### [Long John Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/characters/long_john_silver)

_rivalry_

Captain Smollett is a stern, honorable captain who immediately distrusts Silver and opposes his mutinous schemes.

## In the story

### [Part II: The Sea-Cook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/part-ii-the-sea-cook)

Expresses concerns about the crew and the secrecy of the voyage.

### [Powder and Arms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/ix-powder-and-arms)

Expresses distrust of the voyage, the crew, and the officer; demands precautions against mutiny and insists on moving arms and powder.

### [X: The Voyage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/x-the-voyage)

Smollett is cautious and disapproves of the squire's leniency with the crew. He remains distant from the squire.

### [XII: Council of War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xii-council-of-war)

Leads the council of war; proposes a cautious strategy and assesses the loyal crew.

### [XIII: How My Shore Adventure Began](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xiii-how-my-shore-adventure-began)

Smollett proposes letting the men ashore to prevent open mutiny and distributes pistols to the loyal men.

### [Part IV: The Stockade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/part-iv-the-stockade)

Captain Smollett leads the construction and defense of the stockade.

### [Narrative Continued by the Doctor—How the Ship Was Abandoned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xvi-narrative-continued-by-the-doctor-how-the-ship-was-abandoned)

Commands the loyal party; orders Abraham Gray to join them and oversees the evacuation.

### [Narrative Continued by the Doctor—The Jolly-Boat’s Last Trip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xvii-narrative-continued-by-the-doctor-the-jolly-boat-s-last-trip)

Commands the boat's trim and strategy; orders Trelawney to shoot Hands.

### [Narrative Continued by the Doctor—End of the First Day’s Fighting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xviii-narrative-continued-by-the-doctor-end-of-the-first-day-s-fighting)

Raises the British flag on the log-house, counts stores, notes the shortage of rations, and refuses to strike the colors despite cannon fire.

### [Narrative Resumed by Jim Hawkins—The Garrison in the Stockade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xix-narrative-resumed-by-jim-hawkins-the-garrison-in-the-stockade)

Organizes the garrison, divides watches, keeps up spirits, and leads the discussion on prospects and tactics.

### [Silver’s Embassy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xx-silver-s-embassy)

Smollett firmly rejects Silver's terms, threatens him, and orders him out of the stockade.

### [The Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxi-the-attack)

Leads the defense, assigns positions, and is wounded during the battle.

### [XXII: How My Sea Adventure Began](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxii-how-my-sea-adventure-began)

Captain Smollett lies wounded with a broken shoulder-blade and torn calf muscles; the doctor says he will recover but must not move or speak for weeks.

### [The Cruise of the Coracle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxiv-the-cruise-of-the-coracle)

Jim thinks of Captain Smollett's discipline while observing the sloppy handling of the Hispaniola.

### [Part VI: Captain Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/part-vi-captain-silver)

Captain Smollett is wounded but remains a leader among the loyal party during the final confrontation.

### [In the Enemy’s Camp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxviii-in-the-enemy-s-camp)

Referenced by Silver as a fine seaman but stiff on discipline, and as part of the loyal party still alive.

### [The Fall of a Chieftain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-fall-of-a-chieftain)

Captain Smollett is recovering in the cave by the fire when the party arrives. He praises Jim but says he won't go to sea with him again.

### [And Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxxiv-and-last)

Lies on a mattress giving orders during the voyage home, and is now retired from the sea.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/characters/captain_smollett
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/characters