Conversation so far:
Where did Patrick O'Brian spend his childhood?
Patrick O'Brian had sporadic schooling and long intervals at home in Lewes, East Sussex.
What is the name of Patrick O'Brian's first wife?
Patrick O'Brian was living in London, where he married his first wife, Elizabeth Jones, in 1936.
Aside from writing, what other job did Patrick O'Brian do in his early career?
Patrick O'Brian worked as an ambulance driver, and he stated that he worked in intelligence.
Did Patrick O'Brian serve in the military?

Question: When did he first publish his novel?
Self-contained rewrite: When did Patrick O'Brian first publish his first novel, Caesar: The Life Story of a Panda Leopard?