Benjamin Mayhew IX
From Honorverse
in 1907 PD
Benjamin Bernard Jason Mayhew, known publicly as Protector Benjamin IX, was a citizen of Grayson and a direct descendant of Oliver Mayhew I.
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[edit] Biography
Mayhew was born in 1870 PD on Grayson. He was sent to Harvard University at Bogota on Earth for six years. It was during this time that he relaxed his views about the roles of men and women. During this time, he also became a student of ancient Earth history.
He became Protector in 1898 PD; ever since then, Chancellor Prestwick was an opponent of his.
In 1903 PD, Benjamin IX was the head of the Church and the Grayson government. He kept a more open mind about the role of gender in the Star Kingdom of Manticore, knowing that to keep an ally such as Manticore, he would need to put aside his society's cultural differences with their allies. He briefed his higher ranking officers and other officials about what to expect with Manticore.
He believed that the alliance with Manticore was good thing, feeling that Grayson needed a stronger executive than Chancellor Prestwick in the coming years. He got a majority in the Chamber, and got the Council of Elders in line. Yet, he needed the Grayson Space Navy to back him up, because he was winning by a very slim majority in the Chamber. He hoped that his actions would not hurt his family, but knew that the alliance would greatly help Grayson.
Mayhew attended a meeting to discuss Captain Honor Harrington's requests, which he knew was the best action to help defend Grayson.
Even though Mayhew understood the reason why Harrington acted the way she did, he was not happy about it, especially when he reasoned that she exhorted the meeting with him. When she arrived at his home, Mayhew was a little unnerved that Harrington was around twenty centimeters taller than him, and brought along Nimitz, her treecat. After the formal introductions, he started to realize that he was wrong about her, as she was easy to get along with, and Nimitz was a big hit with his family.
When The Brotherhood of Maccabeus attacked, Mayhew protected his family and Harrington by taking Captain Fox's pistol and covering Harrington when she got injured. The Protector and his family escaped without any injuries.
Afterwards, Mayhew contacted Harrington on the HMS Fearless to get an update on her and Nimitz's status. Mayhew informed her of his cousin's association with the Brotherhood, and their plot to replace Mayhew with Jared. Mayhew, also, showed what has been replaying all over Grayson, a video of Harrington and Nimitz saving the Protector and his family.
The Protector also had a talk with the new High Admiral, Leon Garret. He told him to treat Captain Harrington with respect, and that she was working to help Grayson.
In the aftermath of the Second Battle of Yeltsin's Star, Protector Mayhew attended a meeting on the HMS Reliant where Captain Harrington was knighted into the Order of King Roger. He named Harrington the Steadholder of Harrington Steading and presented her with the Star of Grayson. (HH2)
[edit] Family and Friends
He was the fifth cousin of High Admiral Bernard Yanakov, whom he called Bernie. He also had a cousin named Jared Mayhew, with whom he didnot share a good relationship. His grandfather had Benjamin and his father educated off world, which helped contributing to their more lenient view on gender. His uncle was Oliver Mayhew, Jared's father.
Benjamin had a brother twelve years his junior, named Michael.
Benjamin treated his wives with kindness more often than an usual Grayson husband. Katherine Mayhew was his first, Elaine Mayhew his second wife. Elaine was pregnant in 1903 PD.
Benjamin thought of his former Protectorate Security Detachment commander, Howard Clinkscales, as a wisened old uncle. (HH2)
[edit] Children
Between his two wives, Benjamin sired many children (HH11):
- Rachel – born of Katherine, the eldest, attended Saganami Island Naval Academy
- Jeanette – born of Elaine
- Theresa – born of Katherine
- Honor – born of Elaine, Honor Harrington's goddaughter
- Alexandra – born of Katherine, Allison and Alfred Harrington's goddaughter
- Bernard Raoul – born of Katherine, Steadholder Mayhew as well as Heir Apparent to the Sword
- Lawrence Hamish William – born of Elaine
- Arabella Allison Wainright – born of Katherine
