"The name of Robert FitzRoy, captain of the Beagle, is forever linked with that of his most famous passenger, Charles Darwin. This biography brings FitzRoy out of Darwin's shadow for the first time, revealing a man who experienced high adventure, suffered tragic disappointments, and - as the inventor of weather forecasting - saved the lives of countless fellow mariners." "John Gribbin and Mary Gribbin draw a portrait of FitzRoy, recounting the wide range of his accomplishments and exploring the motivations that drove him." This biography focuses attention on FitzRoy's status as a scientist and seaman, affirming that his was a life that, despite its sorrowful end, encompassed far more success than failures.