Cornelius Hickey

Cornelius Hickey is the assumed name of a man serving as caulker's mate aboard the HMS Terror as part of the Franklin expedition. Prior to departure, the man had murdered the real Cornelius Hickey and taken his place on the ship, intending to desert once the expedition reached the Sandwich Islands. Exhibiting antisocial, sociopathic and narcissistic tendencies, Hickey used his penchant for manipulation to try and elevate his standing among the expedition's commanding officers and later to undermine their authority.

Background
Hickey's background prior to the Franklin expedition, including his real name, is unknown. Harry Goodsir speculated that, based on his accent, Hickey grew up in poverty. As an adult, Hickey would read weekly publications that included illustrations of the Sandwich Islands. In 1845, he learned of the proposed Franklin expedition to locate the Northwest Passage from the real Cornelius Hickey, who described it as "a year in the Polar Sea" before stopping at the Sandwich Islands. Upon learning this, the imposter murdered the real Hickey and discarded his body in Regent's Canal in London. He then assumed Hickey's identity and boarded Terror, serving as a caulker's mate.

Franklin Expedition
While the ships wintered over on the ice during 1846-1847, Hickey entered into a sexual relationship with William Gibson. In May 1847, the two were discovered by Lieutenant John Irving, to whom they claimed they were searching for one of the ship's cats. While Gibson feared that Irving would report their activities, Hickey noted that Irving had not actually seen any activity between them and that, based on Hickey's observations of Irving at Sunday service, he doubted Irving would be willing to "open his imagination."

On Irving's orders, Hickey proceeded to the Captain Francis Crozier's quarters to caulk a draft in his seat of ease. Crozier found Hickey at work and struck up a conversation, noting that while the ship's roster listed Hickey as from Limerick, he had no discernible Irish accent. Hickey claimed that much of his life had been spent in England, and that he barely remembered Ireland. Hickey proceeded to flatter Crozier, noting his success in spite of his Irish heritage, upon which Crozier offered to share a drink with him.

Hickey later thanked Irving for his discretion regarding his relationship with Gibson. Irving stated that his discretion was for the benefit of Gibson, who had claimed to Irving that Hickey had forced him into the relationship and blackmailed him should he have refused. When confronted by Hickey, Gibson stated that his intent had been to spare both of them from punishment and to preserve his own status with the ship's officers. In response, Hickey boasted of his drink with Crozier, believing that it could lead to career advancement, to which Gibson mockingly replied that Crozier would offer a drink to anyone as an excuse to have one himself. In retaliation for Gibson ending their relationship, Hickey secretly defecated on his bed while the rest of the crew was attending the funeral of Sir John Franklin. Hickey also found a resignation letter that Crozier had been in the process of drafting, stating his intent to disobey Franklin's orders by leading a sledge party in search of rescue.

At some point during the following winter, Hickey was tasked with watch duty following several attacks on the ships by a creature known as Tuunbaq. While patrolling Terror's deck, Hickey found the remains of two previous Tuunbaq victims: the upper half of William Strong and the lower half of Thomas Evans. As the Royal Marines ran to alert the officers, Hickey had Sergeant Solomon Tozier reveal the location of Lady Silence, a Netsilik woman who had set up camp near the ships following the death of her father in an accidental shooting. Accompanied by Magnus Manson, Thomas Armitage and Thomas Hartnell, Hickey proceeded to forcibly bring Lady Silence back to Terror, as he believed that she was controlling Tuunbaq.

When questioned by Crozier, Hickey freely admitted to his actions, expecting Crozier to understand the need to act to prevent further attacks. However, Crozier admonished Hickey and his co-conspirators and sentenced them to twelve lashes each. Hickey argued at Crozier that Lady Silence should be punished instead and that he should be praised, leading Crozier to increase the number of lashes before finally declaring that Hickey would receive thirty lashes "as a boy" (i.e., on his buttocks).