Lee Scoresby

Lee Scoresby is a Texan aeronaut and balloonist whose friendship with Lyra Belacqua becomes pivotal in the fight against the Magisterium. In Northern Lights he is hired by John Faa and the Gyptians to aid their mission to save the kidnapped children, and after the rescue he helps transport Lyra to Svalbard. Before the events of His Dark Materials, Lee had already formed a close bond with Iorek, meeting him when the armoured bear was still king in Svalbard.

Quick Facts

Role: Aeronaut; Balloonist
Daemon: Hester (Hare)

Lore & Background

Lee Scoresby first encounters Iorek Byrnison before the main narrative of Northern Lights begins, when Iorek was still the reigning king of the armoured bears in Svalbard. In Northern Lights, Lyra recruits Iorek Byrnison and his aeronaut friend Lee Scoresby; it is with her alethiometer that she helps Iorek retrieve his armour. In The Subtle Knife he pledges to help the witches in their fight against the Magisterium and sets out to find Stanislaus Grumman, also known as John Parry. He carries Parry in his balloon into the world of Cittàgazze, where he gives his life fighting Magisterium soldiers so that Parry can reach his goal.

Did You Know?

Pullman said the 'Lee' comes from the actor Lee Van Cleef and the 'Scoresby' from William Scoresby, a real Arctic explorer.
After their deaths, Lee and John Parry are released from the Land of the Dead and fight Spectres in The Amber Spyglass.