Lord John Rossendale is a major antagonist in the Sharpe novels and its television adaptation.
In Sharpe's Regiment, he was portrayed by Alexander Armstrong, who voiced Mr. Smith in The Sarah Jane Adventures. In the fifth season, he was portrayed by Alexis Denisof, who voiced Zander in Batman Beyond and Mirror Master in Justice League Unlimited.
Biography[]
Novels[]
A somewhat foppish staff officer, Lord Rossendale first encountered Major Richard Sharpe when he was sent to bring him to the Prince Regent during the course of his investigation into Lord Fenner's crimping operation. A year later, Sharpe's wife Jane contacted him for help when Sharpe was accused of stealing the emperor's treasure. Although Rossendale was initially sincere in wanting to help Sharpe, he was attracted to Jane and, when they heard Sharpe was now also accused of the murder of Commandant Lassan, a potential witness against him, they took this as license to start an affair. When Sharpe's old sergeant Patrick Harper attempted to go to them for help, Rossendale whipped him. When the news arrived that Sharpe had been exonerated, Rossendale began practising his pistol skills, suspecting Sharpe would return and challenge him to a duel, but instead Sharpe settled in England.
Rossendale signed up with the British expedition to Belgium following Napoleon's return prior to the Waterloo campaign and was shocked to discover Sharpe was now on the Prince of Orange's staff. The two men came face to face at the Duchess of Richmond's ball where Rossendale tried to avoid a physical confrontation. Sharpe told him he was welcome to Jane but demanded the return of his money, which Jane and Rossendale had appropriated in London and which Rossendale had gambled away. Jane encouraged Rossendale to kill Sharpe during the battle. Sharpe and Rossendale again confronted each other under the cover of the Battle of Quatres Bras, where Rossendale gave Sharpe a useless promisory note.
At Waterloo, Rossendale took part in the Earl of Uxbridge's cavalry charge and exhilarated in realising he could be a proper soldier, only to be caught up with the French and slashed with a sabre. Mortally wounded, he was left lying on the battlefield for hours in extreme pain. He finally died when a Belgian peasant woman slit his throat while looting the wounded.
Television[]
Rossendale dines with Sharpe and the Prince Regent
Rossendale first encountered Major Richard Sharpe when escorting him to an audience with the Prince Regent. He later allowed him to take the French eagle standard in order to present the second battalion of the South Essex to the prince.
Rossendale visited Sharpe's wife Jane in London to inform her that he was a fugitive in France, accused of theft of murder. He was immediately attracted to her and believed Sharpe wasn't deserving of her. They soon became lovers and Rossendale whipped Harper when he tried to deliver a message to her from Sharpe. He gambled away Sharpe's money, which Jane had been left as trustee of, but was left fearing his vengeance when they learned Sharpe was a free man.
On hearing Sharpe was back in London, Rossendale arranged for him to be given a commission with the Scarsdale Yeomanry in order to get him out of the way, only to end up having to follow him north when he was left some property nearby by an aunt. He approached mill owner Sir Willoughby Parfitt for advice in getting into business and nearly challenged Parfitt's right hand man Captain George Wickham to a duel when he insulted Jane but was convinced by her that they should take what they wanted from Parfitt. After Sharpe exposed Parfitt and Wickham's roles in the sabotage of competitors and massacring of protestors, Rossendale distanced himself from them. Sharpe demanded Rossendale release him from his commission, but warned him he hadn't forgotten his debts.
Rossendale took Jane with him on the Waterloo Campaign but found no-one would receive her, since she was merely his mistress. He was knocked to the ground by Sharpe at the Duchess of Richmond's ball and promised to pay back his money. Jane encouraged him to kill Sharpe, but when they encountered each other at Quatres Bras, Rossendale was unable to pull the trigger. Sharpe broke his pistol and sword and sent him on his way. At Waterloo, Rossendale fought the French soldiers, declaring "I can kill as well as you, Sharpe!", only to be dragged from his horse and bayoneted to death.
