The elderly Belter captain who orders Holden away and dies trying to save the Canterbury.
Captain McDowell commands the Canterbury with the wary pragmatism of a man responsible for a civilian crew. He orders James Holden to investigate the Scopuli without playing hero, then calls the Knight back when a strange contact appears. As nuclear torpedoes close in, McDowell attempts an emergency burn despite the danger to the ship's drive and orders Holden to hide, call for help, and survive as a witness.
McDowell is an elderly, extremely tall and thin Belter, unfolding to nearly two and a quarter meters. Age and life without a gravity well make hard acceleration especially punishing for him.
McDowell is the lost captain whose final orders make Holden responsible for the Knight crew.