William Morris (fictional character)

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Captain William Morris is a character in the Richard Sharpe novels.

Morris is a lazy, venal and corrupt officer who came into command of the 33rd Foot's Light Company, after the previous officer, a more energetic and decent man—Captain Hughes—had died of the flux. He is shown to be handing out harsh punishments and is involved in petty pilfering, from which he dreads official scrutiny. Morris is not especially malicious, but in his laziness he tends to pander to the wishes of Sergeant Obidiah Hakeswill—his brutal, psychotic Sergeant whom he regards as 'salt of the earth' and depends on to keep discipline in the company.

The character first appears in Sharpe's Tiger where Sharpe serves under him, and where Morris connives with Hakeswill to have Sharpe flogged—only to have their scheme thwarted when Sharpe is spared the punishment by Arthur Wellesley. Morris reappears briefly in Sharpe's Fortress when his cowardice and reluctance to seize a chance to win the day at the Siege of Gawilghur leads to Sharpe knocking him out and taking command of his company.

Morris only appears in the three India-based novels. In Sharpe's Company in 1812 his old accomplice Hakeswill informs Sharpe that Morris is at Dublin Castle and prospering. Author Bernard Cornwell has indicated that Morris is one of the story threads he has yet to complete.