Conversation so far:
What did Patrick O'Brian publish as Patrick O'Brian?
Patrick O'Brian published A Book of Voyages in 1947 and The Last Pool, published in 1950.
What other pen names did Patrick O'Brian use besides Patrick O'Brian?
Patrick O'Brian published two novels, a collection of stories and several uncollected stories under his original name, Richard Patrick Russ.
Did Patrick O'Brian write anything besides prose fiction?
Patrick O'Brian wrote a non-fiction anthology A Book of Voyages which attracted little attention.
Was any of Patrick O'Brian work besides Master and Commander turn into a movie?

Question: Was he successful when he was alive?
Self-contained rewrite: Was Patrick O'Brian successful when he was alive?