William Gibson
Background
Cornelius Hickey is a subordinate officers' steward on the HMS Terror in the Discovery Service for the British Royal Navy.
During the events of The Terror: Season 1 Episode 2 Gore played by Edward Ashley
Lt. John Irving catches Cornelius Hickey having sex with Gibson. Irving orders Hickey to repair Francis Crozier's toilet and when he leaves, Gibson worries that Irving will tell on them, but Hickey doesn't think he will due to Irving's religious ideology.
During the events of The Terror: Season 1 Episode 3 The Ladder played by Edward Ashley
June, 1847, Hickey sees Gibson ask to speak with Irving. Hickey confronts Gibson and Gibson breaks off their relationship. Hickey brags that he had a drink with Crozier and Gibson points out, Crozier will drink with anyone.
During the events of The Terror: Season 1 Episode 5 First Shot a Winner, Lads played by Edward Ashley
Hickey asks Gibson questions about what the officers on ship are discussing. Hickey gives Gibson, David Young's ring which he stole and again asks Gibson to find out information.
During the events of The Terror: Season 1 Episode 6 A Mercy played by Edward Ashley
January, 1848, Hickey asks Gibson information about what the officers are doing. Carnival starts and Crozier and Thomas Jopson arrive later and find the crew drunk. Crozier holds a speech and tells the crew that they need to return to their homes. Crozier tells them that they will be walking to safety. He continues that they should find help from the Netsilik people on their way and should eventually meet up with Lt. Fairholme and his group. Lady Silence stumbles into the crowd and shortly after, Dr. Stanley starts himself and the carnival camp on fire. The fire spreads through carnival and some of the crew are burned to death. Hickey uses a knife to cut open the canvas and kills Dr. MacDonald in the process. The remaining crew stumble out of the area and the dead are lined up.
During the events of The Terror: Season 1 Episode 7 Horrible from Supper played by Edward Ashley
April 22, 1848, Magnus Manson asks Gibson if he thinks the first land camp is up. Thomas Armitage tells Robert Golding they would know by now if there had been a Tuunbaq attack on the first group. Hickey seems unconcerned about the Tuunbaq, which elicits a comment out of Sgt. Solomon Tozer. Gibson has the idea to abandon the others and to leave on their own, which he tells to Hickey, Golding, Tozer and Armitage. He also thinks they should see if others would like to join them in their desertion.
Irving gives the word, and the group starts their march through the Arctic. The crew meet up with Lt. Edward Little's group, who have already set up camp. During the night, John Morfin collapses and asks Henry Goodsir to kill him. The rest of the camp wakes up and Morfin takes the rifle from Pvt. William Pilkington and points it at Crozier. James Fitzjames orders Morfin to lower his weapon and Morfin shoots towards him before being shot dead by Tozer.