Claim: Cyrus Smith, one of the protagonists of Jules Verne's 1875 novel The Mysterious Island, is a selfish and cowardly man with practical knowledge of physics, chemistry, and botany.
Evidence: He is selfless, noble, honest, courageous, and utterly devoted to his companions. His practical knowledge of physics, chemistry, botany, navigation, and many other fields enables the Mysterious Island's colonists to quickly establish a thriving mini-civilization in isolation from the rest of the world.