The Aurora, Pike, Master was a United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of maritime law. The case involved two ships: the Aurora and the Pike. Both vessels were owned by different companies but had been chartered to one another for a voyage from New York to Liverpool. During their journey, they encountered severe weather conditions which caused them to become separated in mid-ocean. After some time apart, both ships eventually arrived safely at their destination in Liverpool; however, upon arrival it became apparent that each vessel had sustained significant damage during its travels due to the stormy seas they endured while separated from one another. As such, each company sought compensation for damages incurred by its respective ship through an action brought before the US Supreme Court on grounds of breach of contract between them as chartering parties under maritime law principles. In deciding this matter, Chief Justice John Marshall held that since no negligence or fault could be attributed either party’s actions leading up to or during their separation at sea – and thus no legal liability existed – neither company was entitled any form of recompense for damages suffered by either vessel as a result thereof

In the dissenting opinion of The Aurora, Pike, Master case, Justice Story argued that a ship's master should not be held liable for losses incurred during an unexpected storm. He reasoned that it was impossible to predict such storms and therefore no negligence could be attributed to the master in this instance. Furthermore, he noted that if masters were held responsible for all losses due to weather conditions beyond their control then they would have little incentive to take risks or go on voyages at all. As such, Justice Story concluded that any liability should fall upon those who insured the voyage rather than on the captain himself.