Catriona · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Skim names here — open a free preview to see character cards and Character Web beside the page as you read.
David Balfour
major
Also known as Mr. David, Mr. Balfour, Mr. Davie, David Balfour of Shaws, Balfour of the Shaws, Davie, Dauvit Balfour, Maister Dauvit Balfour
A young Lowlander of stubborn honor, David Balfour narrates his own perilous coming-of-age, caught between loyalty to a Jacobite outlaw and his own conscience.
Alan Breck Stewart
major
Also known as Alan, Stewart, Alan Breck, Breck
A Jacobite swordsman and outlaw with a merry tongue, Alan Breck Stewart is David's fierce ally, forever certain he understands women better than his baffled friend.
Catriona Drummond
major
Also known as Catriona Being, Miss Catriona, Catriona Macgregor-Drummond, Catrine, Catrine Balfour
Proud, quick-witted, and poor, Catriona Drummond leaps from a ship's bulwark for David, yet confesses her heart may not be true to anyone.
James More Macgregor
supporting
Also known as James More, James, James Drummond, Macgregor, James Macgregor Drummond
Catriona's father, a Jacobite schemer and former soldier of Gladsmuir, whose polished letters and genteel lies keep his daughter trapped in beggary.
Lord Advocate Prestongrange
supporting
Also known as Prestongrange, Here Prestongrange, Lord Advocate, the Lord Advocate, IV Lord Advocate Preston Grange, The Advocate, Advocate
Scotland's Lord Advocate, a powerful Whig who wields friendship like a net, offering David discretion and favors while quietly arranging his fate.
Barbara Grant
supporting
Also known as Miss Grant, the old Miss Grant, Grant, Mistress Grant, Barbara, Miss Barbara Grant, the artful Miss Barbara
The Advocate's sharp-tongued daughter, Barbara Grant teases David about Catriona's grey eyes, slipping jesting messages into her father's official letters.
Charles Stewart
supporting
Also known as Mr. Stewart, Highland, The Highland Writer Mr. Charles Stewart, Stewart, Charlie Stewart, Charlie
Known in one house as Mr. Jamieson and in France as the Chevalier Stewart, he is a man so privileged that, as one hostess jokes, he might set fire to her corn-barn and still be welcomed back. His ease among enemies and his disloyal toasts mark him as a Jacobite operator whose charm is his cover. For David, he is both a warning and a model of how a wanted man survives on wit rather than steel.
Black Andie
supporting
Also known as Andie, XV Black Andie, Andie Dale, Andie Scougal, Scougal
Andie is the kind of keeper who will bait a young man one minute and shield him the next, calling David 'Saxpence' while quietly steering him toward Catriona. His matchmaking is as blunt as his seamanship, and his suspicion of smooth-tongued strangers runs deep. He matters because the Bass is a prison and a refuge at once, and Andie decides who gets which.
Tam Dale
minor
Also known as Tam, Dale, Tam Dale
Boatman and associate of Black Andie, involved in the Bass Rock escape.
Mr. Balfour of Pilrig
supporting
Also known as Mr. Balfour, Pilrig, Balfour
Pilrig moves easily between the law courts and the private chambers where Jacobite bargains are struck, and he is candid enough to tell David that Catriona's imprisonment is serious in a sense. His loyalty to family is real, but so is his loyalty to the government that employs him, and he will not spend his credit rashly. He matters because he is the one man David can question who actually knows how the machinery of mercy works.
Symon Fraser
supporting
Also known as Fraser, Mr. Symon Fraser, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Symon, Symon
Fraser is the quiet power behind other men's plots, a man who can appear at Shaws by night in a scratchwig and wraprascal and be gone before anyone thinks to ask his business. His courage is not in question, but neither is his ruthlessness, and even hardened Highlanders speak of him with a shiver. He matters because the danger he represents is the kind David cannot see coming until it is already in the room.
Lady Allardyce
minor
Also known as Old Lady Allardyce, Allardyce
Elderly, eccentric noblewoman who shelters David.
Neil of the Tom
minor
Also known as Neil, Neil of the Tom
Highlander and associate of James More, involved in the abduction plot.
Sprott
minor
Also known as one Sprott, Sandie Sprott
Witness in the Appin murder case, a shady character.
Neil Duncanson
minor
Also known as Neil Duncanson, Neil
Highlander and accomplice of James More.
Tod Lapraik
minor
Also known as Lapraik, Tod
Warlock-like figure in Black Andie's tale on the Bass Rock.
Rankeillor
minor
Also known as Mr. Hope of Rankeillor, young Rankeillor
Lawyer and friend of David's family.
Miss Tibbie Ramsay
minor
Also known as Miss Ramsay
Edinburgh landlady and friend of David.
Miss Drummond
minor
Also known as Mistress Katrine Drummond, Mistress Drummond, Katrine
Catriona's aunt and guardian in Holland.
Bohaldie
minor
Jacobite agent and messenger for the Stewarts.
Peden
minor
Also known as Prophet Peden
Covenanting prophet mentioned in Black Andie's story.
Brown of Colstoun
minor
Also known as Colstoun
Friend of David's father, helps David in Edinburgh.
Sheriff Miller
minor
Also known as Miller, Sheriff Miller, Mr. Miller, Mr. Thomas Miller
Edinburgh sheriff involved in legal proceedings.
Sandie Fletcher
minor
Also known as Sandie
Highlander and associate of the Stewarts.
Mrs. Drummond-Ogilvy
minor
Also known as Mrs. Drummond-Ogilvy of Allardyce, Mrs. Ogilvy
Relative of Lady Allardyce, hosts David in Edinburgh.
Captain Sang
minor
Also known as Thence Captain Sang
Officer involved in the pursuit of Alan Breck.
Bazin
minor
Also known as Mr. Bazin
French servant in the household of Prestongrange.
Doig
minor
Also known as Mr. Doig
Clerk or servant in Prestongrange's office.
Duncansby
minor
Also known as Whereupon Duncansby, Whereupon, Mr. Duncansby
Boatman who ferries David and Alan to the Bass Rock.
Robin Oig
minor
Also known as Rob, Robbie, Robin
Son of Rob Roy Macgregor, a Highland outlaw.
Mr. Gebbie
minor
Landlord of an inn in the Highlands.
Duncan Dhu Maclaren
minor
Also known as Duncan
Highlander and friend of Alan Breck.
Hoseason
minor
Captain of the Covenant, from David's earlier adventures.
Mr. Drummond
minor
Jacobite agent and contact in Holland.
Mungo Campbell
minor
Also known as Mr. Campbell, Mr. Mungo Campbell, Campbell, old Mr. Campbell
Factor of Glenure, involved in the Appin murder.
Alison Hastie
minor
Young woman at the inn in Gillane.
Lord Lovat
minor
Also known as Lovat, the Lovat, old Lovat, young Lovat
Jacobite chief, father of Symon Fraser.
Captain Palliser
minor
Also known as Palliser
British naval officer involved in the Bass Rock episode.
Glenure
minor
The murdered factor, central to the Appin case.
Alan Ramsay
minor
Also known as honest Alan Ramsay, Alan
Edinburgh poet and wig-maker, friend of David.
Sheriff Erskine
minor
Sheriff involved in the legal proceedings.
Miss Barbara Balfour
minor
Also known as Miss Balfour, Miss Barbara
David's cousin, daughter of Pilrig.
Mr. Jamieson
minor
Lawyer or clerk in Edinburgh.