Mr. Midshipman Easy

A former captain in the Royal Navy named Frederick Marryat wrote the 1836 book Mr. Midshipman Easy. The Napoleonic Wars in which Marryat personally distinguished himself are when the book is set. Despite his preconceptions the main character Easy grows into a capable officer in the course of the narrative. After his mother passes away Easy finds his father to be absolutely insane when he gets home. The device Easy Senior created to shrink or enlarge phrenological bumps on the skull kills him as he tries to do so with his own benevolent bump. When his fathers servants are removed it will be simple for him to put the estate in order collect back rent from the tenants and expel any who refuse to pay. He formally leaves the fleet equips his own privateering ship with his newly acquired fortune and sails back to Sicily to reunite with his bride Agnes. Her family is unable to reject him because he is no longer a junior midshipman but a wealthy gentleman and he and Agnes go on to have a happily ever after. The book was turned into two adventure movies in the UK: Midshipman Easy directed by Maurice Elvey in 1915.