Who is Ben Stimson from Two Years Before the Mast and what is their importance?

Ben Stimson is the author's best friend aboard the brig Pilgrim during the outbound trip from Boston, MA, to Upper California. Like Dana, Stimson is a first-time sailor, and the son of a professional man. The two men stick together during shore leaves, and when Dana transfers to Alert, Stimson applies to join him. Stimson pays Tom Harris, Dana's other close friend on the crew, to exchange places on their ships, so that Stimson can get home to Boston earlier.