Character Profile: Chief Inspector Archer

Onward down my list of characters (the full list of Character Profiles can be found here), we come next to one of Portia’s first fans Chief Inspector Archer:

AGE: in 1929 he is 64-years-old, born in January 1865.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Pale blue eyes, thick glasses, 5’7″ tall, average build with a small pot belly, grey thinning hair + a handlebar moustache.

LOCATION: London.

EDUCATION: Basic schooling in London, joined the force as a Constable in 1884 at the age of 19, went to war at the age of 49 as a Sergeant, and resumed his work at the Yard after, working his way up to Chief Inspector. He started teaching at the Colleges in 1925.

PREFERENCES: Doesn’t smoke, drinks casually, is a moderate man in many ways.

SOCIALLY:   Married with a wife who worked as a nurse during the first World War, when he was a Sergeant in the Royal Army. Three daughters are all married and living in London, with whom he is still very close. Archer worked with Holmes and Watson in the first few years of his employment with Scotland Yard and is pre-disposed to be supportive of Portia Adams both for her intelligence and connection to Dr. Watson (the only connection he knows about).

PS: You’ll notice the actor whom I hold in my head when writing about Professor Archer is Giles (which I really wanted to give Archer as a first name, but just couldn’t do it) from Buffy. It is no coincidence that the relationship between the Slayer and her Watcher is one that springs to mind when I think of Portia and Archer, so it makes sense in my head that Anthony Stewart Head represents Archer on the page.

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