James Norrington

For other uses, see James (disambiguation)

Biographical information
Gender	Male
Ethnic group	English
Eye color	Green
Hair color	Brown (white wig)
Born	Early 1700s, Great Britain
Died	1729, Flying Dutchman, Caribbean Sea
Family	Lawrence Norrington (father) Fitzwilliam P. Dalton III (cousin)
Title(s)	Lieutenant Captain Commodore of the Fleet Admiral
Also known as	Former commodore
Statistics
Weapon(s) owned	Ceremonial sword Flintlock pistol Cutlass
Ship(s) captained or crewed	Lawrence Norrington's ship HMS Dauntless HMS Interceptor Black Pearl HMS Endeavour Flying Dutchman
Battles	Attack on the Misty Lady Attack on Port Royal Battle of the Isla de Muerta Battle of the Isla Cruces Attack on the Empress
Affiliation	British Empire British Royal Navy Crew of the HMS Dauntless East India Trading Company Jack Sparrow's crew Crew of the Black Pearl
Behind the scenes
First appearance	The Curse of the Black Pearl
Last appearance	At World's End
Cause	Killed by Bootstrap Bill Turner aboard the Flying Dutchman
Portrayer	Jack Davenport Stephen Stanton (voice)

"James Norrington. What has the world done to you?"
"Nothing I didn't deserve."

―Elizabeth Swann and James Norrington

James Norrington was an officer of the British Royal Navy and the East India Trading Company. Bewigged and resplendent in his uniforms, Norrington owed his allegiance to His Majesty the King of England. During his time as a British naval officer, James Norrington lost Elizabeth Swann to Will Turner and got one-upped time and again by Jack Sparrow. Norrington took pride in his service to others before himself, showing a strong dedication to the law, until the occasions of pursuing the right course that demanded acts of piracy.

Over the years, James Norrington achieved many ranks in his career, serving as a loyal British naval officer in the Royal Navy, while at the same time becoming the scourge of piracy in the eastern Caribbean. Lieutenant Norrington served aboard the HMS Dauntless, which carried Governor Weatherby Swann and his daughter Elizabeth in the crossing from England. Loyal service to both King George I and George II of Great Britain had brought James Norrington respect and status. As captain of HMS Interceptor, Norrington had chased and captured some of the Caribbean's most fearsome pirates. Through Norrington's efforts, Port Royal became a civilized British settlement. Because of those efforts, Norrington was eventually promoted from Captain to Commodore of the Fleet. To mark his promotion, Norrington was given a new sword by Governor Swann.

Commodore Norrington's promotion was an advance that brought him some satisfaction, but he still lacked the one thing that could bring him happiness—taking Elizabeth Swann as his wife. Norrington shortly afterwards met the infamous pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, who he was able to capture for a dawn appointment with the gallows. After the attack on Port Royal, Norrington and his crew led a search party for Elizabeth Swann, who was kidnapped by the cursed crew of the Black Pearl. His search was delayed after Jack Sparrow commandeered the Interceptor, with the help of the blacksmith apprentice Will Turner. By the end of the search, Norrington's men rescued Elizabeth and Jack from Black Sam's Spit, as well as battled against the cursed pirates aboard the HMS Dauntless off Isla de Muerta. At Fort Charles, after Norrington foiled an ill-conceived escape attempt in which Will Turner helped Jack Sparrow escape hanging, Elizabeth stood by Will in protecting Jack. Norrington knew his rival in love has beaten him and accepted defeat nobly, and gave Jack a day's head start.

After Jack Sparrow escaped from Port Royal, recapturing him became a mission that took over Commodore Norrington. He chased the pirate all over the world, until he made a fatal mistake off of Tripoli; he pursued Jack by sailing the Dauntless through a hurricane. The pursuit caused Norrington to lose his ship, his crew, and his position within the Royal Navy. James Norrington resigned his commission at the British Navy, having been dismissed, decommissioned, dishonorably discharged, and abandoning his duties, he eventually becoming a penniless drunk in Tortuga. Ironically, the disgraced Norrington would later join Sparrow's crew aboard the Black Pearl and participate in the search for the fabled Dead Man's Chest. After a tireless fight with Will, Jack, and the crew of the Flying Dutchman, Norrington stole the heart of Davy Jones, along with Letters of Marque intended for Jack Sparrow, brought them back to Port Royal and relinquished Jones's heart to Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company. In exchange, James Norrington was reinstated in the Royal Navy, a respectable officer once more. Norrington was also promoted to the rank of admiral, now in service of the Company, whereby he instilled military discipline aboard the Flying Dutchman on behalf of Beckett during the war against the Brethren Court.

Despite having got what he wanted, Norrington came to regret his previous actions upon learning of Beckett's hand in Governor Swann's death, which he learned from Elizabeth after capturing the Empress. He also knew there was no way to absolve himself of his mistakes, even though he had only been trying to be a good soldier. In the end, Norrington had to make a choice and choose a side. Norrington gave up everything, including his life, to help Elizabeth and her crew escape from the Flying Dutchman.

Biography

Early life

"You need to be brave, son. There are men out there who are savages, and they want to destroy your entire way of life. They are uncivilized, heathen, thieving, filthy pirates, and when I have gone to a final rest, it is you who will carry on the banner of civility and order, and help the Crown and our allies in the East India Trading Company eradicate their slime from the Seven Seas."

―Lawrence Norrington to James Norrington

James Norrington was the son of Admiral Lawrence Norrington of the British Royal Navy, born in Great Britain. When he was about five or six years old, he followed his father on a mission to capture Captain Edward Teague, a Pirate Lord and Keeper of the Code. In the midst of a chaotic battle occurring when Teague's crew came to free Teague and his son Jack Sparrow from Lawrence Norrington's ship, James was knocked into the sea and rescued by Teague. Lawrence was humiliated that his son was rescued by a pirate, yelling across the ship that he would have preferred to see his son die drowning instead of being rescued by a pirate. This events marked the young James' life.

Life in the Navy

"I intend to see to it that any man who sails under a pirate flag or wears a pirate brand gets what he deserves: A short drop and sudden stop."

―James Norrington to Elizabeth Swann

Lieutenant Norrington

Over the years, eventually serving as an officer of the Royal Navy, James Norrington was a kind and noble man, though he often appeared to be stoic and slightly snobbish. To his friends and colleagues, however, he showed great respect and grace, especially to Governor Weatherby Swann and his daughter Elizabeth Swann, with whom he had fallen in love. He was completely devoted to the Royal Navy, and would often forsake his own personal needs for the greater good. He harbored an intense dislike of pirates and their kind, and saw himself as something of a purveyor of justice to pirates in the Caribbean, intending to see that any man who sailed under a pirate flag or wore a pirate brand got "a short drop and a sudden stop."

Norrington served in the Royal Navy as a lieutenant, and was stationed aboard HMS Dauntless as it made the crossing from England, carrying Governor Swann and Elizabeth to Port Royal. Upon sighting a wrecked merchant vessel in the water, Lieutenant Norrington ordered his men to search the wreckage. He was so preoccupied with this that he did not notice a ghostly ship with black sails, the Black Pearl, slipping away from the scene.

The Kidnapping of Elizabeth Swann

Commodore Norrington

"I, uh, apologize if I seem forward, but I must speak my mind. This promotion throws into sharp relief that which I have not yet achieved. A marriage to a fine woman. You have become a fine woman, Elizabeth."

―James Norrington to Elizabeth Swann

Commodore Norrington ordering Jack Sparrow to his feet.

Over the years, Norrington used the Interceptor to chase and capture the Caribbean's most fearsome pirates. By eight years after the crossing from England, Norrington had become captain, was awarded with a medal of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, and, due to his loyal service, was set to achieve the rank of commodore. To mark his promotion, Norrington is given a new sword by Governor Swann. Norrington's promotion ceremony was held at Fort Charles in Port Royal, drawing a large crowd. Among those gathered was Elizabeth Swann, whom Norrington had first met on the crossing from England, and had developed a friendship with over the past eight years. However, Norrington was also in love with Elizabeth, and, since he believed a wife was the only thing missing in his life, wished for her hand in marriage.

The newly-promoted Commodore attempted to propose to Elizabeth atop the fortress, following the ceremony. However, Elizabeth, apparently overcome by the proposal—though actually having fainted due to the constricting corset she had been forced into—toppled over the side of the fortress and into the sea far below. Shocked, Norrington gathered his men and raced down to the harbor, where he found Elizabeth in the arms of a man in the distinctive garb of a pirate. Elizabeth's rescuer turned out to be Captain Jack Sparrow, whom Norrington took into custody, set for hanging despite his recent good deed. However, Sparrow managed to briefly escape Norrington's clutches until he was subdued in a blacksmith's shop in the town.

Norrington and Governor Swann before the attack on Port Royal.

Commodore Norrington had Sparrow imprisoned, but it was not the end of his troubles with pirates. That night, Port Royal was attacked by the Black Pearl, and though Norrington's men fought valiantly, the town was overwhelmed, and Elizabeth was captured. The next day, Norrington and his men attempted to formulate a plan to locate the Pearl, but were unsuccessful. The situation escalated further when Will Turner freed Jack Sparrow from the dungeons and helped him commandeer the HMS Interceptor to track down the Black Pearl. Norrington was forced to watch the pirates sail away with the ship, grudgingly admitting Jack's unexpected competency.

Pirate chase

"Think about it: The Black Pearl. The last real pirate threat in the Caribbean, mate. How can you pass that up?"
"By remembering that I serve others, Mr. Sparrow, not only myself."

―Jack Sparrow and James Norrington

Norrington and Elizabeth Swann aboard HMS Dauntless.

Norrington was not about to give in, however. He had the Dauntless—whose rudder chain had been disabled by Sparrow during his escape—repaired, and set sail, now with three objectives; to reclaim the Interceptor, to capture Jack Sparrow and to rescue Elizabeth Swann. Although the Interceptor was ultimately destroyed by Captain Hector Barbossa's crew of aboard the Black Pearl, Norrington was able to achieve two of his goals when his men sighted a distress signal on a desert island. It transpired that both Elizabeth and Jack had been marooned on the island by Barbossa, while the Black Pearl set out for Isla de Muerta with Will Turner.

Despite Elizabeth's protests, Norrington refused to launch a rescue of Will, since it had not been his intention to follow the Pearl at all, other than if in doing so it would have ensured Elizabeth's safety. However, Elizabeth asked that Norrington change his mind for her, as a wedding gift. Norrington was stunned and delighted that Elizabeth had accepted his proposal, and agreed to her plea, eventually forcing Jack Sparrow to assist them in locating Isla de Muerta.

Battle at Isla de Muerta

"The ship is ours, gentlemen."

―James Norrington

Commodore Norrington's victory against the cursed pirates.

Upon arrival at Isla de Muerta, however, Norrington was less than happy about the situation, as his men would be put at a disadvantage if they attempted an assault on the pirates' cave. Worse still, Jack Sparrow appeared to be controlling proceedings, laying out a plan in which he would go in himself and persuade Barbossa to send out his men, while Norrington waited aboard the Dauntless to blast the pirates with their cannons. However, the Commodore actually had no intention of following Sparrow's directives, not trusting the word of a pirate. Instead, he rowed out with the marines to the mouth of the cave, leaving Lieutenant Gillette in command of the Dauntless along with a small detachment of troops. Because of this, Norrington remained unaware that the pirates, now cursed skeletons under the moonlight, were actually infiltrating the flagship and killing his crew. It was only when one of his crewmen managed to ring the ship's bell that Norrington realized what had happened and immediately ordered this men to row back to the Dauntless.

However, by this time, the cursed pirates had taken control of the Dauntless's cannons and began to fire the guns upon the marines making their way back to the ship. Once they arrived, Norrington led his men as they engaged the pirates in battle. Norrington himself drew his ceremonial sword and dueled Koehler in single combat, proving to be a match for the immortal pirate. As Will Turner managed to reverse the curse from within the island, thus making the pirates mortal and human once more, Norrington killed the now-mortal Koehler with one stab from his sword. Norrington's men looked at the reactions of Koehler and the other pirates as they realized the curse had been lifted and surrendered to the British Navy. As Norrington pointed his sword at Twigg, the commodore proclaimed that the Dauntless was theirs once more, and cries of jubilation rang out on its decks as the surviving pirates surrendered.

Jack Sparrow's escape from Port Royal

"Commodore! What about Sparrow?"
"Oh, I think we can afford to give him one day's head start."

―Gillette and James Norrington

James Norrington at Fort Charles.

The Commodore ordered a return to Port Royal, where the pirates would be imprisoned. Jack Sparrow was likewise captured, and sentenced for execution. Norrington himself presided over the execution ceremony at Fort Charles, and was ready to order his marines into position when Will Turner attempted his rescue of Sparrow. However, Elizabeth pretended to faint during the chaos, drawing Norrington's attention and allowing Sparrow to escape from the gallows.

The Commodore finally caught up with Sparrow and Turner out on the battlements, where he was shocked by Elizabeth's decision to stand with Will, in protection of Jack against Norrington. James asked Elizabeth if this was truly her heart's desire, which she affirmed. Norrington accepted this with surprisingly good grace, though was at a loss as to what course of action to take when Sparrow escaped into the open waters. But the commodore was not entirely without a heart. Drawing his sword, Norrington approached Will and gave his compliments on his beautiful sword, expecting him to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life. Norrington wished Elizabeth and Will good luck, and even decided to postpone pursuit of Jack for at least another day. With that, Commodore Norrington left the scene, his stunned men following on.

Hunting Jack Sparrow

"Commodore Norrington! You're out of uniform!"
"And you're out of luck, Jack Sparrow. I swore I'd bring you to justice for your pirate ways, and this time you can't count on a woman to step in and save your hide!"

―Jack Sparrow and James Norrington

However, it turned out Norrington didn't have to search for Sparrow because Sparrow himself "invaded" Port Royal alone. He was quickly captured and thrown into the dungeon. When he confronted Sparrow, Norrington commented that Jack really was the worst pirate that he ever heard of. However, Jack quickly escaped, with the secret help of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, taking one of the cursed pirates, Scurvy Joe, with him.

Once again forced to pursue Sparrow, Norrington and his men sailed for Tortuga, where they expected to find him. However, since Tortuga was officially a French colony, Norrington and his men couldn't enter the port as members of the British Navy. After disguising themselves in civilian clothes, they found Sparrow and cornered him in one alley. However, Anamaria interrupted them, and Sparrow managed to run away. They chased him, but they were stopped by a man wearing the hat and cloak of the Governor of Tortuga. The "governor" threatened to arrest Norrington and his men as spies, but the real governor suddenly appeared, and it turned out that the imposter is actually Jack Sparrow in disguise. Using the governor's coach, Jack escaped once again, and the real governor also threatened to arrest Norrington and his men.

Regaining his life

Life as a pirate

The former commodore James Norrington in Tortuga.

"And what's your story?"
"My story...it's exactly the same as your story, just one chapter behind. I chased a man across the Seven Seas. The pursuit cost me my crew, my commission, and my life."
"...Commodore?"
"No, not anymore, weren't you listening?! I nearly had you all, off Tripoli. I would have, if not for the hurricane."
"Lord. You didn't try to sail through it?"

―Joshamee Gibbs and James Norrington

While pursuing Jack Sparrow, Norrington's ship, the Dauntless, was destroyed by a hurricane off Tripoli. Disgraced and embarrassed, Norrington resigned his commission at the British Navy, having been dismissed, decommissioned, dishonorably discharged, and abandoned his duties. This proved to be fortunate however as no one knew where he was when Lord Cutler Beckett had appeared with a warrant for his arrest for him allowing Jack to escape.

Norrington on board the Black Pearl.

During this time, James Norrington became a broken man, he started drinking heavily, and was found still wearing his Commodore uniform, albeit now rags, in Tortuga, in a bar where he applied for a position on the Black Pearl, to become a pirate himself. He became largely concerned with regaining his honor in any way possible, however, and about getting revenge on the people that he believed ruined his life.

During his time on the Pearl, Norrington did not believe Jack was telling the truth about the Chest of Davy Jones, until he actually saw the Chest and heard the heart beating within it. He seemed to have found out or guessed how Will Turner ended up on the Flying Dutchman, and also noticed the growing relationship between Jack and Elizabeth.

Duel on Isla Cruces

Will Turner, James Norrington and Jack Sparrow caught in a duel.

"Lord Beckett desires the contents of that chest. I deliver it, I get my life back."
"Ah. The dark side of ambition."
"Oh, I prefer to see it as the promise of redemption."

―James Norrington and Jack Sparrow

When the Black Pearl arrived at Isla Cruces, Norrington was one of the crew chosen to accompany Jack Sparrow to shore, being named “the helper” by Jack, possibly just out of spite and a desire to mock him. After a series of events including Will Turner's reappearance, Norrington became embroiled in a complicated three way sword fight with Jack Sparrow and the aforementioned Will Turner. This was further complicated by the arrival of the Flying Dutchman. Norrington proved to be more than a match for Jack who he disarmed. After Jack was removed from the fight he engaged in a lengthy dual with Will on top of a rolling waterwheel, this lasted sometime until Jack caught up and entered the waterwheel after which the fight for the key resumed with all three parties fighting inside the wheel for the key. However Jack managed to take the key and climb out of the wheel. After the waterwheel finally stopped rolling, Norrington was able to take advantage of the chaos and found the letters of marque inside jacks coat while he was fending off a member of Jones’ crew, he was also able to find where Jack had hidden Davy Jones' heart and rejoined the fight against Davy Jones’ crew. After the group was convened Norrington escaped with the empty chest, feigning a diversion so that the crew of the Black Pearl could escape. When Davy Jones' crew caught up to him, he quickly tossed them the empty chest and fled the scene.

Choosing a Side

Admiral Norrington

"So, whoever possesses the heart of Davy Jones...commands Davy Jones."
"And with that - the Flying Dutchman."
"You have changed the course of history, Mister Norrington."

―Lord Cutler Beckett and James Norrington

Admiral James Norrington.

After being found adrift at sea, Norrington presented the heart of Davy Jones, along with the Letters of Marque to Lord Cutler Beckett. He regained his "life" and place in the Royal Navy through his newfound service to Beckett, a decision he would later come to regret. Though he merely hoped to win the commission as a privateer, Norrington was reinstated to the Royal Navy and Beckett gave him the rank of admiral for the East India Company's fleet. Now under the employ of the East India Trading Company, Norrington was given back his sword from his days as commodore. And with it, he helped command Beckett's Armada during the War Against Piracy.

After Lord Beckett had become frustrated with Davy Jones for killing all his prey and leaving no survivors for interrogation, he placed Admiral Norrington in command of the Flying Dutchman in order to ensure that Jones did as commanded. He also decided to have Jones' heart placed onboard the Flying Dutchman to further ensure Jones's compliance. Norrington's marines kept a constant vigil over the heart with swivel guns, to use in case the crew attempted to take the chest.

Attack on the Empress

"Thank God you're alive. Your father will be overjoyed to know you're safe."
"My father's dead."
"No, that can't be; he returned to England."
"Did Lord Beckett tell you that?"

―James Norrington and Elizabeth Swann on Governor Swann's fate.

Admiral James Norrington aboard the Empress.

After the Empress attacked the HMS Endeavour and fled, Beckett ordered the Flying Dutchman to pursue. Norrington led the boarding party, and was reunited with Elizabeth onboard. Just then he was happy to see Elizabeth alive, as was Elizabeth, until she recalled that Norrington was now allied with her adversaries. She angrily accused him of choosing the side that murdered her father. Norrington was shocked to hear of this, and was also shocked that Elizabeth had become a pirate captain.

Norrington then ordered the prisoners put into the brig and offered Elizabeth his quarters, but Elizabeth declined, choosing instead to be with her crew, and as far from Norrington as possible. Norrington pleaded with Elizabeth to understand that he did not know what atrocities Lord Beckett had ordered to be carried out, but Elizabeth would hear none of it. Norrington was otherwise stunned, as Lord Beckett—the very man who had given him his life back—had lied to him and was part of the death of a friend whom he had known since he was only a lieutenant in the British Royal Navy.

Death

"Our destinies have been entwined Elizabeth, but never joined."

―James Norrington to Elizabeth Swann

James and Elizabeth share their first and last kiss.

While Elizabeth and her crew were in the brig aboard the Flying Dutchman, James Norrington released them, stating that he's chosen their side, allowing them to make their escape. Upon reaching the rope connecting the Empress to the Dutchman, James and Elizabeth help the crew of the Empress escape the Dutchman. However, Elizabeth was still angry with Norrington. James insisted that he had no part in her father's death, stating that he lamented his other misdeeds. Finally seeing the truth, Elizabeth requested that he go with her. But before he could answer, Bootstrap Bill Turner appeared from the top deck and went on his way down.

Norrington pulled out his sword and told Elizabeth to go and reluctantly said that he would follow her, Elizabeth knew that he was lying. He told Elizabeth that even though their paths have crossed, they wouldn't truly be together. After James kissed Elizabeth, Norrington was caught by Bootstrap Bill Turner, who alerted Davy Jones and his crew of a prisoner escape.

Admiral James Norrington lying dead.

Seeing that Elizabeth was going towards him, James fired his pistol at the restraints connecting the two ships. Elizabeth managed to escape, but Norrington was fatally wounded by Turner. Despite her initial resentment at Norrington for giving Beckett command of Davy Jones, Elizabeth was devestated and heartbroken at seeing her friend getting killed.

Upon arriving at the scene, Davy Jones asked James Norrington if he feared death. With his last breath, Norrington speared Jones with his sword before dying. Jones took that action as a "no". Taking out Norrington's sword, Jones admired the blade and kept it for himself. It is unknown what happened with Norrington's body or where Norrington ended up after death.

"Belay that!"

―James Norrington last words, to Bootstrap Bill Turner

Personality and traits

James Norrington

"Commodore Norrington is bound by the law. As are we all."

―Weatherby Swann to Elizabeth Swann

Tall, dark and handsome, the debonair, ambitious James Norrington was the epitome of the dashing soldier and officer of the British Royal Navy. Repressed and proper, Norrington nonetheless possessed a keen sense of adventure. He was motivated to uphold the social order, at any personal cost or emotional toll, and to ultimately do the right thing. During his time as a British naval officer, James Norrington lost Elizabeth Swann to Will Turner and got one-upped time and again by the notorious pirate Captain Jack Sparrow. As a disgraced British officer, he became an angry, embittered drunk as a result of his failures, and when given the opportunity to reclaim his status he abandoned his honor to restore his rank. However, upon serving Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company, Norrington came to realize that he made a terrible mistake, and had to live with that. Seeing what he had become, James Norrington sacrificed himself for the sake of others—especially Elizabeth Swann.

As a loyal officer in service to the British Empire who was bound by the law, Norrington enjoyed power but he never abused it, taking pride in his service to others before himself. Loyal service to His Majesty King George II of England had brought James Norrington respect and status. When he captained the HMS Interceptor, Norrington had chased and captured some of the Caribbean's most fearsome pirates. Norrington was devoted in equal measure to eradicating piracy and to the lovely Elizabeth Swann, daughter of Governor Weatherby Swann. He was dedicated to the laws against piracy and attempted to have all pirates executed, so much as to show off the bodies of the executed pirates near the docks, hoping that this grisly spectacle will encourage passing sailors to obey the law. To maintain an air of authority, an officer in the English Navy could not afford to show any emotion in front of his crew; Norrington himself had spent so many years masking his feelings that even in his personal affairs he is distant, including his feelings for Elizabeth Swann.

As a newly minted commodore, James Norrington spoke his mind to Elizabeth Swann, telling her she became "a fine woman" as he exercised restraint in his proposal to Elizabeth, who greatly underestimated his love for her. Above all, Elizabeth followed her heart, which led to leaving Norrington for the blacksmith apprentice Will Turner. But she dreaded the thought of being a commodore's wife, respectable but dull, even though marriage would have brought him wealth and respect. Regardless, the two had once been betrothed, though Elizabeth had never wanted to marry. Later, when Elizabeth stood by Will Turner in protecting Jack Sparrow, a pirate captured twice by his men, Norrington asked Elizabeth if this was where her heart truly lied. Knowing that he could never win Elizabeth's love and his rival in love had beaten him, accepted defeat nobly. Norrington parted ways with the couple with the civil warning to Will, "This is a beautiful sword, I would expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life", making it clear he expected Will to treat Elizabeth with the utmost respect. It also showed that, despite the sword widely having been believed to be crafted by his master John Brown, Norrington at least deduced the truth and acknowledged it and Will's talent. Despite all they've been through, James Norrington's love for Elizabeth had never wavered, despite her rather unfortunate inclination toward the pirate life. Even after losing Elizabeth to Will, James Norrington still had feelings for her, going so far as to say there was a time he wanted her to look at him like she did to Jack Sparrow, and kissed her shortly before his death.

After Jack escaped from his hanging at Port Royal, recapturing him became a mission that took over Commodore Norrington. He chased the pirate all over the world, until he made the fatal mistake of sailing through a hurricane. He was dismissed from the Navy for his foolishness and became a penniless drunk. Having resigned his commission, decommissioned and dishonorably discharged, abandoning his duties and left the British Navy, the former commodore became bitter and hated Jack Sparrow for ruining his life. Though Norrington agreed to join Jack's crew, he later attempted to kill him in a three way duel with Sparrow and Will Turner over the key to the Chest of Davy Jones. After Sparrow pointed out that Turner had been partially responsible for his disgrace, Norrington forgot about Sparrow and turned on Turner instead.

Unbeknownst to everyone, James Norrington was able to slip in, steal Davy Jones's heart, then brought it back to Port Royal and relinquished it to Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company. Having handed the heart to Beckett, Norrington was immediately reinstated in the Royal Navy and was a respectable officer once more. He was also given a promotion as Admiral of the East India Trading Company Armada. However, despite having regained his place in the Navy, James Norrington came to regret his decision to join Lord Beckett upon learning of Governor Swann's death from Elizabeth. He knew there was no way to absolve himself of his mistakes, even though he had only been trying to be a good soldier. Eventually James gave up everything, including his life, to help Elizabeth escape from the Flying Dutchman. Just before dying, James Norrington stabbed Davy Jones through the shoulder with his sword to show Jones that he wasn't afraid of death.

Equipment and skills

"This is a beautiful sword. I would expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life."

―James Norrington to William Turner

James Norrington was an excellent swordsman, sailor, and military strategist. As a notable officer of the British Navy, Norrington was always dressed in a splendid uniform. His Navy uniform consisted of white breeches, white stockings, black shoes with buckles, a white linen shirt, sleeveless waistcoat, white cravat, black tricorne trimmed with gold, as well as a blue woolen broadcloth coat. He also had another tricorne, this one trimmed with feathers, which he wore only on ceremonial occasions. He also wore a medal of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, which signified his many achievements during his service to the Crown.

By his promotion to commodore, James Norrington was skilled with a sword, having wielded a ceremonial sword that was crafted by Will Turner for his promotion ceremony. Norrington was allegedly more skilled than Jack Sparrow, equal to Hector Barbossa, with only Will Turner surpassing him in ability. Though he lost his ceremonial sword after his disgrace and resignation as Commodore, Norrington later regained it when he became Admiral. Even with a cutlass, Norrington was a skilled swordsman able to simultaneously fend off Jack Sparrow and Will Turner during their three way duel over the key to the Dead Man's Chest.

James also used a flintlock pistol and was an excellent marksman, able to shoot through the rope that Elizabeth Swann used to escape the Flying Dutchman even though it was dark.

During his service in the Navy and the East India Company, Norrington wore a white wig as a sign of his status and power. When he resigned his commission, Norrington wore the tatters of his old commodore uniform, including the tattered remains of the wig while on Tortuga. After boarding the Black Pearl, Norrington apparently dispensed of the wig in his new life as a pirate as it was not seen again following his preparing to board the Black Pearl. Instead, Norrington wore his regular brown hair in a small ponytail while serving on the Black Pearl and bringing the heart of Davy Jones to Lord Cutler Beckett.

Behind the scenes

Development

"In my draft, Commodore Norrington was in league with the bad guys. His quest was for power. He wanted to rule the Caribbean, and he was first going to do that by marrying the Governor's daughter to gain power through marriage. When she turns him down in the first act, he goes into league with the bad pirate captain, whose plan, in my draft anyway, was to take control of the Caribbean, much like Henry Morgan did in the late 1600s."

―Stuart Beattie

James Norrington was originally conceived as Defoe in a rough treatment that broadly outlined the story for the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, created by Walt Disney Studios executives Brigham Taylor, Michael Haynes, and Josh Harmon. Will was a lowly prison guard who dreamed of becoming a member of the Governor's elite guard, but his hopes were dashed when Defoe, the Captain of the Guard, cruelly rejected him in front of the Governor himself and his daughter, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth was kidnapped by the notorious pirate, Blackheart, and held for an exorbitant ransom, the Governor dispatched Defoe with the payment, but the Captain of the Guard was secretly in league with Blackheart and planned to exploit the situation and unseat the Governor, while Will formed an uneasy alliance with Jack, a former member of Blackheart's bloody crew. In the end, Blackheart was vanquished, Defoe ended up in prison, Will and Elizabeth end up together, and Jack was named he new Captain of the Guard, much to Will's dismay.

Jay Wolpert was brought in to develop their original treatment into a first-draft screenplay, featuring Defoe, while Stuart Beattie was later brought in to rewrite the script and changed some names from Wolpert's draft—Captain Defoe became the equally treacherous Lieutenant Norrington, and the vile Blackheart was dubbed Captain Wraith. In Beattie's draft, Norrington wanted to gain power by marriage to the Governor's daughter, but when she turned him down, he goes into league with the bad pirate captain, whose plan was to take control of the Caribbean, "much like Henry Morgan did in the late 1600s." Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio built upon what Wolpert and Beattie had already contributed, but added a supernatural spin and Commodore Norrington was not associated with Captain Wraith/Blackheart. In Elliott and Rossio's early screenplay draft, Norrington was named "Captain Norrington" implying he served as captain aboard the HMS Dauntless in the crossing of England, rather than lieutenant, despite still having the line "Rouse the Captain, immediately".

The Curse of the Black Pearl

"I liked that he wasn't a too-oft seen English villain. I didn't have to spend the entire film standing in the prow of a boat snarling about pirates getting away. Norrington is basically the scourge of piracy in the eastern Caribbean at the start. If you're a pirate and you see me coming, you'd be scared. I suppose that Norrington's job is to bring light where there is dark, and air freshener to where pirates have recently vacated. Norrington's feelings toward pirates is that they're basically scum. They dress badly, they rob, they chat, they have very poor personal hygiene. Like any upstanding member of the British military in the eighteenth century, Norrington frowns on that kind of unethical behavior and looks forward to pounding more colonials into the dust with his larger weaponry."

―Jack Davenport

James Norrington was portrayed by Jack Davenport in the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. After his name was unveiled through a preview for Pirates of the Caribbean reported in 2002, Norrington first appeared in the trailer for The Curse of the Black Pearl, and in Irene Trimble's junior novelization published in 2003.

Jack Davenport as James Norrington with Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann.

Davenport was an English actor who had gained a following for his role as Steve Taylor in the popular comedy series Coupling, the son of noted actress Maria Aitken and the distinguished British stage and screen actor Nigel Davenport, one of the stars of in Alexander Mackendrick's 1965 film A High Wind in Jamaica, perhaps the last really fine pirate movie, which both producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski enjoyed. That thought that was very much in mind when Davenport first met with Verbinski about playing the role of Norrington. On Jack Davenport, Verbinski said, "Jack Davenport really caught the nuance of what it is to conspire to do the right thing, but know that it's not being done under the right circumstances. He's actually one of 20 the strongest characters in the movie and also plays the foil in many comedic moments." Davenport himself was impressed with the complexities of what could have easily become a stereotypical, one-sided character. He explained, "Norrington is basically the scourge of piracy in the eastern Caribbean. If you're a pirate and you see me coming, you'd better be scared. What I liked about my character was that he wasn't just a snarling English villain. There was more to him than just looking fierce." Further noted in the bonus feature "An Epic At Sea" and the book Bring Me That Horizon: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean, Davenport said, "I suppose I bring light where there is dark and air freshener to where pirates have recently vacated." Davenport, always quick with a joke, allowed, "brocade is hard to make fierce," referring to his costume. He laughed, "I saw this picture of Johnny with his bandana and dreadlocks. The pirates just looked so cool. I've got this ridiculous garb on; I look like an ice cream." According to the audio commentary for The Curse of the Black Pearl, Will Turner was the best swordsman in the film, with Norrington and Hector Barbossa being equally matched, and Jack Sparrow being the worst.

The character was only identified as "Norrington" in the junior novelization, the film and its ending credits on-screen. His first name "James" was first revealed in the deleted scene "Accepting the Proposal" included in the DVD release. The full name "James Norrington" was supplied in supplementary materials, including the reference book Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide.

Dead Man's Chest and At World's End

"To be perfectly honest, I didn't think I stood a prayer of coming back, in the sense that you have to consider how your character serves the story, and one could argue that Norrington totally served his function in a narrative sense because he's kind of the secondary bad guy in the first film. It would be feasible to move the story on and leave Norrington behind, but thankfully, they didn't do that. So here I am, sweating like a pig."

―Jack Davenport

On a sweltering Dominica day, Jack Davenport admitted that he wasn't quite expecting to reprise his role in the second and third films, the 2006 film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and the 2007 film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. "To be perfectly honest, I didn't think I stood a prayer of coming back, in the sense that you have to consider how your character serves the story, and one could argue that Norrington totally served his function in a narrative sense because he's kind of the secondary bad guy in the first film. It would be feasible to move the story on and leave Norrington behind, but thankfully, they didn't do that. So here I am, sweating like a pig." Producer Jerry Bruckheimer said, "To be honest with you, Jack Davenport is such a superb actor that we wanted him to be back with the party because he's fun to work with and created a memorable character. He really embellishes the movie, so he became an even more major player in both Dead Man's Chest and At World's End."

While Norrington was originally written as an evil character intended to join forces with the villain in The Curse of the Black Pearl, notably in Stuart Beattie's draft, the idea was later used by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio for Dead Man's Chest, in which Norrington betrays Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner and Jack Sparrow to side with Cutler Beckett, though later regretting it. In an interview, writers Elliott and Rossio were asked if Norrington was a hero. Elliott responded that the only true evil in the world is "willful ignorance—the refusal to accept facts." Rossio considered Norrington to be a "good guy" on the criteria that "a character who's good is one who would make a moral choice once they know all the facts versus a character who would knowingly make an immoral choice."

Explains the compulsively witty Jack Davenport of his character, James Norrington, "Where you left me off at the end of the second film, I was still modeling homeless-person chic...but with Davy Jones' heart in hand. I well know that I managed to give the heart to probably the last person on earth or indeed the high seas that I should have given it to, it's now allowed me in the third film to once again dress like a Mardi Gras float. I'm much more comfortable in blues and yellows, and I once again sport the deeply flattering white wig. So joy is unconfined all around." On a somewhat more serious note, Davenport says, "In At World's End, Norrington comes to realize that he's made a terrible mistake, and he has to live with that. In terms of his feelings for Elizabeth, he's not the same swooning chap that he was in the first film, which I think is a good thing in terms of deepening the character. She broke Norrington's heart, very embarrassingly and very publicly. Subsequently, I don't think he harbors any great illusions about them sailing off into the sunset together. In the third film, he looks on rather helplessly at the gigantic mess he's created, and he has some opportunity for redemption."

In Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio's original screenplay for At World's End, Norrington served under the rank of Captain. Norrington also experiences some mutual respect for Davy Jones, both of whom see themselves as becoming obsolete in the New World, as well as discovering the body of Governor Swann, after being shown the way by Wyvern aboard the Flying Dutchman. The character would be named Admiral James Norrington in the Calypso's Fury production draft, the junior novelization, and the final cut of the film.

Norrington has appeared in several deleted scenes from Dead Man's Chest and At World's End. In Dead Man's Chest, Norrington appeared in "Manual Labor", where he works aboard the Black Pearl, "Salvation" where Elizabeth Swann explains the story of Isla Cruces, and "The Map is Finished", which shows that after Norrington gave Beckett the Letters of Marque and the heart of Davy Jones, Beckett gave Norrington his sword back and promoted him to the rank of Admiral. At least one cut scene in At World's End with Norrington appeared to have been filmed, named "Swann Song", where Norrington dissuaded Governor Swann from stabbing the Davy Jones' heart aboard the Flying Dutchman, even after a confusion on Jones' claim that Elizabeth was dead. These scenes weren't included in the initial home video releases of Dead Man's Chest and At World's End, but would later be released in several movie collections by 2011.

Rejected and unused concepts

Many fans were disappointed with how Norrington's story finished in At World's End, and so they wrote to Disney in several ways or another expressing concern. Following the release of the 2011 film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, reports of a fifth film involving a deceased Navy officer. This sparked rumors of Norrington's return, given the fact that he died at sea in At World's End. However, the 2017 film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales was released without the character or Davenport himself returning.

Norrington in Dead Men Tell No Tales concept artwork by Didier Konings.

In Terry Rossio's original 2012 screenplay for Dead Men Tell No Tales, Norrington appeared as part of Jack Sparrow's hallucination as he spied a longboat bearing Commodore Norrington, beckoning to Jack, then raised his pistol and fired, causing his boat to shoot backward impossibly fast, in a dreamlike, uncanny fashion, out of reach. As noted in Rossio's annotations, the pistol Norrington raises to fire should be the exact same pistol he aimed at Jack in the pub in Dead Man's Chest, and suggested the scene could be a trailer moment. Although the idea was rejected by the final version of the film, concept artwork of Norrington as a ghost was made by the artist Didier Konings.

Continuity

During Norrington's promotion ceremony at the start of The Curse of the Black Pearl, Norrington can be seen wearing the neck badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath. However, this may be considered an error, due to the setting of the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films are set during the 1720s, and the Order of the Bath did not receive three classes until 1815; before that it only had the class of Knight Companion, whose badge was suspended from a sash.

In synopsis of The Guardians of Windward Cove, the first issue of Joe Books Ltd's Pirates of the Caribbean comic book series, Norrington was mentioned as being an Admiral. This is a mistake, though, as Norrington was a Commodore by that time and was later promoted to Admiral by Cutler Beckett following his success to retrieve the heart of Davy Jones.

Merchandise

In 2006, to coincide with the release of Dead Man's Chest, Mega Bloks released a set named Water Wheel Duel, which included figures of Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and James Norrington. As an interest fact, Norrington is depicted without beard and seems to be an old man. Whether this is a false labeling or not is unknown. Likewise, it's also unknown for which reason Norrington is included in the Flying Dutchman set, as it appears to take place during the final battle, and Norrington is already deceased by that time.

Since the release of Dead Man's Chest in 2006, several forms of merchandise have been made with Norrington such as several figures, one with his old worn Commodore uniform and the other being with his Admiral Uniform for the release of At World's End in 2007.

Video games

While not making an appearance, James Norrington's name is mentioned in the 2005 non-canonical video game Kingdom Hearts II in the Pirates of the Caribbean world. The cannons located at Port Royal bear the message, "To be used in case of pirate attack – Commodore Norrington".

In the At World's End video game, Norrington's demise happens at the deck of the Flying Dutchman instead than at the ship's stern balcony. His death also differs from the film, as none of the other Dutchman's crewmembers nor Davy Jones are present at the scene and Bootstrap Bill Turner just stabs him with a knife and he collapses there. Furthermore, Norrington's sword is never taken by Jones.

In LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game, instead of being mortally wounded by Bootstrap Turner, he is separated from his legs by Bootstrap and after he hits Davy Jones with a fish, Jones decapitates him and puts his head on the fish. Subsequently, the fish is thrown to the sea and swims away. Both the fish and Norrington's head appear to be alive and not dead. In addition, Norrington's Commodore and his Admiral uniform are exactly the same.

Appearances

• Jack Sparrow: Sins of the Father
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Missing Pirate
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003 junior novelization) (First appearance)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2006 junior novelization)
  • Fluch der Karibik
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (comic)
• The Accidental Pirate! (Mentioned only)
• The Guardians of Windward Cove (Mentioned only)
• Smoke on the Water (Mentioned only)
• The Capture of Jack Sparrow!
• In Jack We Trust!
• The Buccaneer's Heart! (Non-canonical appearance)
• Breakout! (Indirect mention only)
• The Sails of Doom! (Mentioned only)
• The Black Heart of the Pearl (Mentioned only)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: A Storm at Sea
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (junior novelization)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (comic)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (video game)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (comic)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (junior novelization)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End: The Movie Storybook
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Penguin Readers)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War (Mentioned in flashback(s))
• Kingdom Hearts II (Non-canonical appearance) (Mentioned only)
• LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (Non-canonical appearance)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Gods and Ghosts M (Non-canonical appearance)

Sources

• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: "An Epic At Sea: The Making of Pirates"
• Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide (First identified as James Norrington)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide
• Bring Me That Horizon: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean
• The Secret Files of the East India Trading Company