| Horatio Hornblower Horatio is a young navy officer who goes on unbelievable adventures after being forced to join the king's Royal Navy. He's very smart and cunning when it comes to fighting, and is a good friend to many of his crew members. However, he isn't perfect. He has troubles and trials just like anyone else, but no matter what comes his way he takes it full force. He's scared to death of heights, gets seasick a lot, and can speak French and Spanish. Because of his strong, daring, and courageous nature, he's considered to be one of the best officers that the British navy has ever had! Archie Kennedy Even though a guy by the name of Kennedy appears in the first book, the character of Archie is only seen and enjoyed in the movies. He serves as Hornblower's ‘little buddy’ and sidekick and can be downright hilarious at times. One wonders how he ever became a navy officer because of his sensitive personality and nature. He has panicked during battle and is also deathly afraid of the midshipman, Jack Simpson. Some tend to think that Simpson abuses Archie when no one is around, and when Archie comes in contact with Simpson he usually has an epileptic seizure soon afterwards. Lt. William Bush In the HH books, Bush is Hornblower's faithful buddy, officer, and friend to the very end. Taking his job to the fullest, he’s most of the time serious, but can be funny when he wants to be and has a true heart of gold. He and Hornblower go through some very hard times together and thus think of each other as close friends rather than officers of the navy. Bush is truly a character not soon to be forgotten. Wellard Wellard is one of the midshipmen aboard the H.M.S. Renown. He's very young and rarely speaks. Bush tries to protect Wellard when Captain Sawyer accuses him of plotting mutiny with Hornblower and the other crew members, but his actions only get Wellard into more trouble. Captain Sawyer has poor Wellard punished by bending him over a cannon and spanking him with Booth's cane. Afterwards, Wellard attaches himself to Hornblower and buddies around with him for protection and friendship. I'm sad to say that poor Wellard didn't live long. In the book, Bush reads about his death in a newspaper after the war. In the movie, he dies alongside Captain Sawyer. Captain Pellew Pellew is probably one of the most beloved characters of the Hornblower series. He is the first real Captain that Hornblower has and the best one. Hornblower and Pellew quickly become close friends through their long battles with the French and Spanish and it hits Hornblower really hard when Pellew is suddenly ordered to change ships in the middle of war. Unlike some captains, Pellew has a heart for others and the crewmen around him. From the beginning, Pellew sees something special in Hornblower and takes him under his wings. When you read the books or watch the movies, you can't help but love Pellew. He's just someone you'd want for a friend! Styles, Matthews and Oldroyd In the movies, Styles, Matthews, and Oldroyd tend to act like the crew's three stooges and are always seen together. No matter where Hornblower goes, these three funny seamen always go with him and even look up to Hornblower as a type of hero. In the second collection of movies, however, Oldroyd didn't seem to make it in the transfer to the Renown. If you ever need help, you can count on these three chaps to help you, even if it means putting a smile on your face! Anthony Bracegirdle Besides having a rather funny name, Bracegirdle altogether is a comical character. Both in the book and movies, Bracegirdle serves as a lighthearted officer. His wisecracking jokes and kind personality is always a welcome to Hornblower. Even out on the battlefield, Bracegirdle always knows how to smile! Buckland Buckland seemed to stay basically the same in both movies and book. He's the first lieutenant of the Renown and took over as acting captain when Sawyer went insane. His personality is one of uneasiness and he gets very nervous and upset when he becomes the acting captain, and seeks help from Bush and Hornblower. While hoping to someday become a full-fledged captain, he, in the end, becomes the laughingstock of the navy after word gets around that he was gagged and tied to his bed by a Spanish prisoner. When Hornblower gets promoted to captain, Buckland becomes rather jealous of him. Major Edrington Major Edrington is the head of the marines (or lobsters) in the fourth movie and in the book as well. He's very serious and even acts a little stuck-up, but despite all this he's really kind and has feelings for others. You can see that at several points in the movie he tends to actually feel sorry for some of the people and even Hornblower. Clayton As far as I know, the character of Clayton is only seen in the first movie. A character by the name of Clay appears in the sixth book. Also in one of the very last books a character by the name of Clayton is seen, but whether one of these two is supposed to be the one in the movie is still unknown. In the movie, Clayton is the only other midshipman, besides Archie, who is actually kind and friendly to Hornblower at first. He’s a bit of a coward and Simpson knows it (using it as a means of controlling Clayton). Despite his cowardice, however, Clayton risks his life for Hornblower when Hornblower challenges Simpson to a duel after Simpson accuses Hornblower of cheating at cards. The fact that Hornblower, a mere boy, has more courage than he does, fuels Clayton into finally facing his fears and standing up to Simpson. Clayton proves that he does have courage within when he knocks Hornblower out and takes his place in the duel. Both Simpson and Clayton get shot, but unfortunately Clayton doesn't survive his wound. Jack Simpson (John Simpson) Jack Simpson is known as John Simpson in the book, and he only appeares in the first book as well as the first movie. Simpson is the ultimate villain; the kind you just love to hate. He is a very wicked and malicious bully to Hornblower, Archie, and the rest of the midshipmen. He's the senior midshipman and thus sees himself in control. His constant torture and abusive bullying causes fear to creep into the hearts of everyone he comes in contact with. He is overly jealous of Hornblower because of Hornblower's keen mind for mathematics, something Simpson fails badly in. In the movie, Simpson is especially fond of torturing poor Archie to the point of Archie having epileptic seizures. Simpson has it in for Hornblower and even tries to kill him. But Simpson soon meets his end when Captain Pellew shoots him to save Hornblower's life. Captain Sawyer Another 'bad guy' of the Hornblower world. Sawyer is evil, cruel, and also insane. He once was a great man who served under Nelson, but somehow lost his mind by the time he became captain of the Renown. His constant and obsessive fear of mutineers taking over his ship pushes him over the edge and causes many problems. He constantly suspects Hornblower, Wellard, Archie and the rest of plotting something against him. Sawyer's actions soon show that he is mentally unstable and incapable of running a ship, resulting in Hornblower and several of the other crew members having to do something about his unusual behavior. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |