Hillyar entered naval service in the year Porter was born, giving him decades of experience before their encounter. His career included the American Revolutionary War, the Glorious First of June, Toulon, Egypt, Java, Mauritius, and the Battle of Tamatave off Madagascar. In 1813 he became commodore of the British Pacific Squadron with orders to protect British interests, attack American whaling infrastructure, and intercept surface raiders. He knew Essex's captain, armament, location, and recent activity before making contact, while Porter knew almost nothing comparable about him. This disparity in experience and information is the personal counterpart to Dixon's larger command network.
Chapter · 1:13:56-1:18:20
James Hillyar brings a lifetime of war to the Pacific
Hillyar had served since Porter's birth and reached the Pacific after the American, French Revolutionary, and Napoleonic wars with precise orders and detailed intelligence on Essex.