Jack Harkaway was an orphan, and attended the Pomona House School, run by Mr. Craucor and his wife. However, he soon felt tired of his troubles at the school and decided to run away and have a life of adventure on the sea. He was accompanied by chums such as Dick Harvey and Harry Girdwood. Later, he returned to England, went to Oxford and presumably married his sweetheart, Emily. He then had a son who he named Jack, and the dauntless "young Jack" accompanied his father on further adventures throughout the world. He eventually had a grandson as well.