Character guide

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.