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Mr Hollom was an officer candidate of the Royal Navy. Failing to pass for Lieutenant multiple times, he was an incompetent midshipman who had reached the age where he could no longer hope for a commission.

The first time Hollom served with Jack Aubrey was aboard HMS Lively, but he was taken to a hospital ship when he became ill. During the War of 1812, after being shunted from ship to ship, he was taken on the Surprise by Aubrey. During the voyage from Gibraltar to the Pacific, he becomes thought of as a Jonah- a biblically-inspired term referring to a cursed member of the crew who brings bad luck upon the ship-, and is generally disliked and disrespected by the crew due to his passivity and inability to lead. Hollom is more interested in playing the guitar than playing his part in shipboard life. Later in the voyage, one of the sailors pushes past Hollom without making any notion to the officer's presence, a major affront, but Hollom is unable to stand up for himself.

Of all the ship's crew, only the captain and Mr Horner, the ship's gunner, are not aware of the affair Mr Hollom had with the gunner's wife, Mrs Horner, who had served as caretaker to the ship's boys. Mr Hollom impregnated Mrs Horner who was given an illegal abortion by Mr Higgins, the surgeon's mate. While the Surprise was being provisioned on the Galapagos Islands, Mr Horner allegedly beats the two lovers to death out of jealousy.

Hollom is not missed by the crew.

Movie appearance[]

Much like in the books, Hollom is a midshipman on the Surprise. He has failed to pass for Lieutenant twice, and is approaching 30 years old (in contrast to William Blakeney, who is of near-equal rank and less than half his age). While a kindhearted young man, Hollom is timid, indecisive, and an all-around poor fit for a leadership role. His lack of ability to lead or make decisions has made him unpopular with both the sailors and the officers on board.

While on watch, Hollom thinks he sees a shape in the fog, but is unable to decide whether or not it is a ship. After being pressed by his fellow officers and continuing to be indecisive, he fails to Beat to Quarters, requiring the 2nd officer of the watch, Peter Miles Calamy to do so instead. The shape in the fog is indeed a ship; the Acheron.

During the following battle, in which he is a gun captain, he survives while his entire gun crew is killed.

During the chase after the Acheron around a stormy Cape Horn, Hollom is sent to climb up the mizzen mast to help William Warley, a popular young sailor. Hollom hesitates, and the top sail is blown off the mizzen top, carrying Warley with it before Hollom can reach him. The mast acts as a sea anchor, dragging the ship sideways, and Jack Aubrey and Warley's best friend, Joseph Nagle, are forced to cut the ropes while Warley is still alive and clinging to it. The ship is free but Warley is unable to be saved, left to drown in the stormy waters.

After a long time in the doldrums, no rain or wind, the crew begins to think of Mr. Hollom as a Jonah. A drunk Joseph Nagle rudely pushes past Hollom, despite his rank, and per Jack Aubrey’s orders is whipped for deliberate insubordination. Aubrey calls Mr. Hollom to captain quarters and tries to lecture him about leadership qualities. However, this only leads to both of them fully realizing Hollom doesn't posess any.

Only William Blakney remains Hollom's supporter. While Blakeney is on nightwatch, Hollom joins him on deck. Blakeney tells him that the Captain thinks they'll get their wind tomorrow, and Hollom says he's sure of it. After saying goodbye to Blakeney, Hollom jumps overboard holding a cannonball to weigh himself down, and drowns.

The next day, as Captain Aubrey utters the last words of the funeral prayer, the wind picks up and it finally begins to rain.

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