Thomas Theisman

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Honorverse character
Thomas Theisman
Race Human
Gender Male
Homeworld Haven
Occupation Naval Officer
Affiliation Republic of Haven
Position Secretary of War
Chief of Naval Operations
Rank Admiral


Thomas Theisman is a fictional character in the Honorverse. He was born on Haven to an unmarried Dolist teenager, and spent his childhood in a state-run créche. He joined the People's Navy immediately after high school. He was sent to Masada to command the starship Principality as part of a proxy war. He soon realized the Masadans were very dishonorable allies. During this incident he was captured by Captain Honor Harrington, but was later returned to the People's Republic.

Theisman continued his career during the following years, commanding a heavy cruiser during the opening stages of the war with Manticore. After Rob S. Pierre's coup, he quickly rose to the rank of Rear Admiral, and commanded a task force during the Fourth Battle of Yeltsin, narrowly avoiding a battle with Honor Harrington. Theisman was later given command of the Havenite forces at the Seabring system, where he successfully repelled a Manticoran attack, a victory which earmarked him for promotion and command of the major Havenite base at the Barnett System. It was during his tenure at Barnett that he had to deal with the capture of Honor Harrington by Admiral Tourville, and where he encountered first hand Committeewoman Cordelia Ransom's cruelty, gaining major firsthand insight about the nature of the Committee of Public Safety.

He respects Honor Harrington as a leader of men, and Lester Tourville has equal respect for him. Unlike Esther McQueen, he was not viewed as dangerously ambitious by the Committee of Public Safety, largely because his People's Commissioner (Denis LePic) was concealing Theisman's discontent. After Admiral McQueen's death, Thiesman was appointed as Commander of Capital Fleet. He launched a coup d'état and killed Oscar Saint-Just, ending the rule of the People's Republic of Haven. It is said that he restored the honor of the People's Navy. Theisman turned down the offer of the Presidency of the reinstated Republic of Haven, instead letting Eloise Pritchart take that position. For his part, he reestablished the post of the Chief of Naval Operations, holding both that position and the position of Secretary of War.