content: Born into a fisherman's family near Exeter, England, Tom Ayrton's father, James Ayrton, was a retired navy petty officer. His mother passed away early, leaving him to rely on his elder brother, Benjamin. During his youth, he accompanied his father on fishing trips, where he learned to observe tides and identify wind directions. In his spare time, he secretly studied the "Nautical Almanac," nurturing a desire to "conquer the oceans."