List of Sharpe series characters


Sharpe is a series of historical fiction stories by Bernard Cornwell centred on the character of Richard Sharpe. Cornwell's series charts Sharpe's progress in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars.
Director Tom Clegg filmed the television series Sharpe based on the novels by Bernard Cornwell starring Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe. The series originally ran from 1993 to 1997. In 2006, ITV premiered Sharpe's Challenge, a two-part adventure loosely based on his time in India, with Sean Bean continuing his role as Sharpe.
In both the novels and television series, Sharpe encountered many characters, some real and some fictional. Below are some of the characters mentioned in the novels by Bernard Cornwell and the television series directed by Tom Clegg.

Richard Sharpe

Richard Sharpe first appears in Sharpe's Tiger as a private in the 33rd Regiment of Foot. He later earns the rank of Sergeant by the end of the book. He soon gains promotion to Ensign in the 74th Regiment but is then transferred to the newly formed 95th Rifles as a second lieutenant during Sharpe's Trafalgar. He is gradually promoted through the ranks, finally becoming a lieutenant colonel in Sharpe's Waterloo.
The stories dramatise Sharpe's struggle for acceptance and respect from his fellow officers and from the men he commands. Sharpe was born a guttersnipe in the rookeries of London but grew up in Yorkshire. He joined the army at an early age to avoid the penalty of crime.
He is a good soldier and his abilities resulted in him being commissioned as an officer on the battlefield. He overcomes class in an army where an officer's rank is often bought. Unlike many of the officers with whom he serves, Sharpe is an experienced soldier.
Sharpe is described as "brilliant but wayward" in Sharpe's Sword, and is portrayed by the author as a "loose cannon". A highly skilled leader of light troops, he takes part in a range of historical events during the Napoleonic Wars and other conflicts, including the Battle of Waterloo. The earliest books chronologically are set in India, and chronicle Sharpe's years in the ranks and as an ensign. He is known as a dangerous man to have as an enemy; he is a skilled marksman and grows to be a good swordsman. In most of the novels he is a Rifle Officer, armed with a 1796 pattern heavy cavalry sword and Baker rifle, although by Sharpe's Waterloo he has also acquired a pistol.
Sharpe's first command happened by misfortune in Sharpe's Rifles. He found himself in command of fifty riflemen after Sharpe's battalion, acting as rearguard to the army, are cut down by a squadron of French regular cavalry.
The small band of surviving riflemen join with Spanish Major Don Blas Vivar, not realizing at first that he has his own agenda. They try to stir the Spanish in the city of Santiago de Compostela to fight for the cause of Spain against Napoleon.
In Sharpe's Eagle, Sharpe and his thirty-odd surviving riflemen are attached to the Light Company of the South Essex. It is with the South Essex, later named The Prince of Wales' Own Volunteers, that Sharpe spends the rest of his army career until he attains the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Sharpe's Waterloo.
He is described as being six feet tall, having an angular, tanned face, long black hair and blue eyes. His most obvious physical characteristic is a deep scar on his right cheek, which pulls his right eye in such a way as to give his face a mocking expression when relaxed, but which disappears when he smiles, which is not too frequently. By the end of the series he has had three children and two wives, although not at the same time.

95th Rifles

Bradshaw

Rifleman Bradshaw first appeared in Sharpe's Gold. He was a quiet rifleman, rarely speaking. He was often seen with Rifleman Tobias Moore. He appeared in Sharpe's Battle as well, and also took part in the Franco-Spanish Border towards where Brigadier General Loup. He also helped Lord Kiley and the Irish Company be trained before the attack. Bradshaw was also friends with Hagman, Moore and Harris, he was often seen with them. He survived Loup's village along with Harper, Hagman, Harris, Moore and Millerson, unfortunately Perkins was killed at the hands of Irish Company Guardsman O'Rourke. He appeared in Sharpe's Sword, and partook at El Mirador's place, but with a stay at the town Villafranca. He stayed at Father Curtis' church for the night, then later one night he partook in the battle at the French fortress, which resulted in the deaths of half of Col. Berkeley's men and Col. Berkeley himself. He survived but Sharpe was severely wounded. After Sharpe had recovered, he partook again attacking the fortress and he survived the battle. He had a cameo in Sharpe's Regiment, but was seen only at the start and end. Bradshaw also appeared in Sharpe's Siege, and was there before they would head to France, partook in the battle of Bordeaux and survived it. Rifleman Bradshaw also appeared in Sharpe's Mission and participated in the Battle of France.

Cameron

Rifleman Cameron first appeared in Sharpe's Rifles where he accompanied Sharpe in the retreat to Corunna where he was wounded. He fought in the First Battle of Oporto and also partook in the Second Battle of Oporto which he survived. Cameron fought with Sharpe in the Battle at Talavera although he was not mentioned in Sharpe's Eagle. He also participated in the destruction of Almeida but was not mentioned in Sharpe's Gold and also partook in Sharpe's Escape during the battle of Bussaco. He partook in the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro in and went to fight with Sharpe in the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo and the siege of Badajoz. He went on to fight in the Battle of Salamanca in Sharpe's Sword and alongside Sharpe in Sharpe's Enemy, but was not mentioned. with In battle Cameron partnered fellow rifleman and friend Rifleman Harvey.
Cameron never appeared in the TV series adaptions.

Carter

Rifleman Carter first appeared in Sharpe's Havoc. He fought in the First Battle of Oporto and also partook in the Second Battle of Oporto which he survived. Carter fought with Sharpe in the Battle at Talavera although he was not mentioned in Sharpe's Eagle. He also participated in the destruction of Almeida and also partook in Sharpe's Escape during the battle of Bussaco. He partook in the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro and fight with Sharpe in the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo and the Siege of Badajoz. Carter was described as being a Catholic, a quiet individual who was lucky. His best friend is Rifleman Matthew Dodd who he partnered in battles.
Rifleman Carter never appeared in the TV series adaptions.

Francis Cooper

Rifleman Francis Cooper was a Chosen Man who served in the 95th Rifles. He was born in the London slums, where he learned his trade in thieving and pick pocketing. While he has a reputation for being unintelligent and impulsive at times, he is one of the best shots, rarely missing an opportunity, whether its to leave the column to shoot a rabbit for supper, or to eye up any pretty lady.
In the novels Cooper first appeared in Sharpe's Prey and was one of the original men of Major Dunnett participating in the Battle of Copenhagen alongside Harper, and Harris. He made an appearance in Sharpe's Rifles and on the retreat to Corunna.
He featured in Sharpe's Havoc during the victory at Oporto and the Second Battle of Porto. He also appeared in Sharpe's Battle during the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro and went to appear in the last novel Sharpe's Skirmish during the Defense of Tormes. He is referred to as one of Sharpe's best marksmen along with Hagman, Thompson and Harris.
In the TV Series adaption he is played by Michael Mears. He first appears in Sharpe's Rifles and goes to fight with Sharpe until Sharpe's Gold. Cooper was supposed to have appeared as a full-time Chosen Man and was originally going to be a long living member of Sharpe's Chosen Men, presumably to feature in either Sharpe's Mission or Sharpe's Waterloo. He was to have been and would have been the last of Sharpe's Chosen Men along with Harper to survive Waterloo, but plans changed when Michael Mears was called onto other films. His role-play was replaced with Richard Rutherford-Moore playing as Rifleman Moore, a new Chosen Man, who had no dialogue.

Christopher Cresacre

Rifleman Christopher Cresacre first appeared in Sharpe's Havoc however he would have accompanied Sharpe in the retreat to Corunna but was he was never mentioned in Sharpe's Rifles. Cresacre fought in the First Battle of Oporto and also partook in the Second Battle of Oporto which he survived. Cresacre fought with Sharpe in the Battle at Talavera where Sharpe captured a French Eagle. He also participated in the destruction of Almeida in Sharpe's Gold and also partook in Sharpe's Escape during the battle of Bussaco. Cresacre featured in Sharpe's Battle. He partook in the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro and went to fight with Sharpe in the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo and the Siege of Badajoz. Cresacre was unfortunately killed in the siege of Badajoz in Sharpe's Company. Sharpe was angered by the death of Cresacre indicating he valued the rifleman. Cresacre was described as a moaner and a grumbler. He was also one of the rifleman who was considered to be troublesome.
Rifleman Cresacre never appeared in the TV Series adaptions.

Matthew Dodd

Rifleman Matthew Dodd is a fictional character who appears in several of the Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell.
Rifleman Dodd is a quiet individual of Sharpe's chosen men, based on C.S Forester's novel Death to the French fictional character, Dodd fights along with Sharpe from Sharpe's Rifles until being promoted to Corporal in Sharpe's Escape where he goes missing in action and separated from the group, however Bernard Cornwell never mentioned Dodd returning with the company at the end of the book however in C.S Forester's novel Death to the French he does find his way back to the regiment.
Matthew Dodd isn't related to William Dodd nor are they family. He never appeared in the TV Series adaptions.