Adam Faulkner
Adam Faulkner is a Scottish doctor. He is played by Cat.
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| Portrayed by Robert Bathurst | |
| Full Name | Adam Matthew Faulkner |
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| Title | Doctor |
| Associated Noble House(s) | Not applicable |
| Date of Birth | 22 April 1782 |
| Father | Doctor Philip Faulkner |
| Father's Rank | Not applicable |
| Mother | Harriet Faulkner (née Harwood) |
| Mother's Rank | Not applicable |
| Town Residence | Currently with family friends in Great Windmill Street |
| Income | Undisclosed |
| School | Home schooled in Europe |
| University | Edinburgh Medical School then Royal College of Surgeons, London |
Family
The Faulkners
Doctor Philip Faulkner - Father
Harriet Faulkner (née Harwood) - Mother
Anna Faulkner (née Fellowes) - Wife, d. 1806
Notable Friendships
Poppy - Intimate friend
Background
Born in Edinburgh to the renowned physician, Dr Philip Faulkner, it was only natural that Adam would follow his father into medicine. His happy childhood was spent travelling in Europe due to his father’s reputation among continental royalty and, on his return to Scotland, he took up his own training. Initially apprenticed to his father, Adam continued his education in London under Dr Matthew Baillie and soon built a solid reputation as part of his father’s practice upon his return to Edinburgh.
Adam married his childhood friend, Anna Hunter, in 1804. Sadly, Anna died delivering the couple’s stillborn child in 1806. Tortured by the loss of his wife, Adam returned to the continent where he had spent such an idyllic childhood and was soon the physician of choice in the noble houses that had once employed the services of his father.
Having accumulated a healthy bank balance, Adam returned to Great Britain in November 1810 and resumed his work in London. Whilst Dr Faulkner the Elder continues to treat his most illustrious patients whenever he is in the capital, care of other clients has now been delegated to Adam.
Highly educated by private tutors during their European travels, Adam speaks French, Italian, German and Russian yet has never quite been able to conquer his Scottish accent when doing so. He is a keen outdoorsman and, since the death of his wife, can regularly be seen undertaking marathon walks around whatever city or far-flung principality is his current home.
Appearance
Adam has inherited his bright blue eyes and fair hair from his father, as well as his somewhat extravagant height of 5’11”, which makes life occasionally more difficult than he would like. He is handsome enough to send the occasional lady into vapours, though is certain this is rather more to do with his doctorly manner and unhappy past than his looks.
Personality
A usual first impression of Adam Faulkner is that he is a man who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. His manner might occasionally be taken as terse if not downright rude and his professional shield can be rather difficult to penetrate. Taciturn, occasionally sombre and always watchful, this sober countenance hides a man of good humour, a ready dry wit and, if caught on the right evening, an excellent singing voice! A child of the Enlightenment, he grew up in a quietly rather radical household, his father’s straight-laced respectability proving the perfect cover for his mother’s scandalous pamphlets!
Until the death of Anna, Adam lived a charmed life, joining his father’s celebrated practice and doing his bit in the foundling hospitals his parents founded. However, the loss of his wife and child in one fell swoop hit Adam hard and left him determined to seek a new start in Europe. In fact, though he might have done just that, he found himself longing to return to the familiar streets of London and did so in 1810, bringing his skills to the rookeries just as he treats those who enjoy rather finer surroundings.
Adam is still given to brooding on his own role in the death of his wife and has taken refuge in work. One might accuse him of being old before his time and, perhaps in response to his mother’s somewhat colourful ways, has attempted to be rather a stickler for propriety. This, however, conflicts with his weakness for the uncomplicated company of one or two women he has come to know through his work in the rookeries, and he is constantly trying to balance the pursuit of pleasure with the pursuit of respectability. His sojourns into the darker corners of London in search of entertainment bring a flush of forbidden pleasure but, once they are over, leave him ashamed of what he sees as his own moral weakness.
Anna’s death left Adam certain that he wanted no other wife and that, for the rest of his life, he would remain a widower. Although his grief has eased, his resolve has not, though whether he still feels quite so certain that he will be alone for the rest of his days is anyone’s guess and he certainly has no intention of taking one of his rookery companions on as a permanent arrangement! For now, he is content to renew old friendships, play a little cricket, ride out on crisp carefree mornings and spend evenings in his club.
Good-humoured and a friend to be counted on, Adam is, however, a little too quick to judge others. He is given to an air of superiority and often takes the moral high ground, further adding to that air of being old before his time. After a few glasses of wine with friends, however, things can go too far in the other direction and can be rather the enabler, leading others into good-natured mischief whilst careful not to get caught in his own.
He is delighted to be once again in London, mixing powders, bathing brows and chopping off the occasional gouty foot when duty demands.
Residences
Adam is currently house-hunting, whilst staying with family friends in Great Windmill Street.