Four men take a central role in this sad story -

Captain Cowper Phipps Coles - the designer of HMS Captain

- described by Arthur Hawkey, perhaps a little unfairly, as "the man who was wrong".

Edward James Reed - Chief Constructor of the Navy, 1863-1870

- always unhappy with Coles's ideas; perhaps he was "the man who was right".

Captain Hugh Talbot Burgoyne, V.C.

- from a distinguished family and with a distinguished career, but did not survive the fateful night.

Sir Hugh Childers - First Lord of the Admiralty

- a great supporter of Coles's ideas, but at loggerheads with Reed; lost his son on board Captain that night.