Is Black Jack Randall Real
Tobias Menzies (Frank Randall / Jonathan 'Black Jack' Randall) Before he played Prince Philip on season 3 of The Crown, Tobias Menzies played dual roles on Outlander: Frank, Claire's history professor first husband, and Black Jack Randall, a villainous 18th-century British soldier with a Jamie Fraser obsession. Starz / Getty Images 9 of 20. For the 18th-century storyline, Menzies played Frank's depraved ancestor Black Jack Randall, who died after a final showdown with Jamie at Culloden in the Season 3 premiere. Hanan Tobias Simpson Menzies (born 7 March 1974) is an English stage, television and film actor. He is best known for playing Frank and Jonathan 'Black Jack' Randall in STARZ's Outlander, for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination, in addition to his roles as Brutus in HBO's Rome and Edmure Tully in HBO's Game of Thrones. Believe it or not, but Black Jack Randall didn’t get his infamous nickname from a card game. According to Jamie Fraser, the “black” in his moniker actually represents the color of his soul. This makes perfect sense being that Randall is the epitome of evil incarnate.
Fans ofOutlander have been wondering whether or not Captain Black Jack Randall was based on a real person or not.
Season three of Outlander saw the death of Captain Black Jack Randall, which led to questions about whether or not the tyrannical redcoat was actually based on a real figure.
Captain Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall (played by Tobias Menzies) passed many seasons ago. The evil villain died at the Battle of Culloden at the hands of Highlander Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). Over the course of his time on the show, 'Black Jack' proved to be the most bloodthirsty and violent character on the show.
His cruelty was unparalleled, as he used violence to ensure that he got everything he wanted on the show. His torturous ways meant that he was feared and loathed across the world of Outlander.
This has led fans to wonder if there is any truth behind the theory that 'Black Jack' was actually based on a real person.
But how much is the character rooted in reality and how much was borne from US author Diana Gabaldon’s imagination?
Well, according to some sources, the character was not based on any real person from the Jacobite era, unlike other characters on the show. Outlander featured some real figures including the Duke of Sandringham (Simon Callow) and Bonnie Prince Charlie (Andrew Gower).
A newspaper called The Scotsman, however, has suggested the character could have been based on captain Caroline Frederick Scott, who is described by the publication as having a “brutal streak”.
In the book Culloden: Scotland’s Last Battle by historian Trevor Royale, Scott was said to have been led by a “visceral dislike of Highlanders” and had a personal desire to kill Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Sound familiar? Based on this description, there's certainly a chance that the idea for 'Black Jack' stems from Captain Scott.
Let us know what you think.
Take a look at this video of Jack Randall
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Outlander saw its most evil villain Captain Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall (played by Tobias Menzies) perish many seasons ago. Nevertheless, some fans have been wondering about him. He died at the Battle of Culloden at the hands of Highlander Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). During the three seasons he featured on the Starz show, he proved to be the most dangerous and violent.
Was Captain Black Jack Randall a real person?
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from the Outlander TV series and Diana Gabaldon’s novels
Black Jack was a looming figure in seasons one to three of Outlander as he terrorised Claire Fraser (Caitriona Balfe) and her husband Jamie.
The character’s cruelty and sadistic ways knew no bounds as he used rape and violence to control others.
Season one featured a horrific sexual assault as Black Jack raped and tortured Jamie in a harrowing and prolonged ordeal.
Jamie was left broken and a shell of the man he used to be, loathed to the touch of his wife after Black Jack used psychological means to harm the Highlander as well as physical.
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But how much is the character rooted in reality and how much was borne from US author Diana Gabaldon’s imagination?
According to Screen Rant, Gabaldon didn’t base Black Jack on any real-life historical figures unlike Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek) and other Jacobite Lords.
Outlander also featured some real figures including the Duke of Sandringham (Simon Callow) and Bonnie Prince Charlie (Andrew Gower).
The character of Jamie was inspired by an account Gabaldon read with the writer previously telling National Geographic in 2014: “I was reading a book for research called the Prince in the Heather, by Eric Linklater, which described what happened after Culloden.
“It said that, following the battle, 19 wounded Jacobite officers took refuge in the farmhouse by the side of the field.
“There they lay for two days with their wounds, unattended in pain. At the end of that time they were taken out and shot, except one man, a Fraser of the Master of Lovet’s regiment, who survived the slaughter.
“And I was thinking that if I expect Jamie to survive Culloden then his last name better be Fraser.”
The real-life Battle of Culloden did happen was depicted in the show. Historically, there were a number of Redcoats who could fit the bill for Black Jack and his tendencies towards violence and hatred for the Scots.
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Newspaper The Scotsman has suggested several possible candidates who may have been the real-life equivalent of Black Jack.
At the top of the list is Captain Caroline Frederick Scott, who is described by the publication as having a “brutal streak”.
In the book Culloden: Scotland’s Last Battle by historian Trevor Royale, Scott was said to have been led by “visceral dislike of Highlanders” and had a vendetta against Bonnie Prince Charlie.
This Redcoat is said to have roamed the Highlands, pillaging and raping with his men as he went.
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In one account from the laird of Raasay, Scott’s men sexually assaulted a blind woman and two girls.
Black Jack Randall Real Name
However, he wasn’t the only one with Captain John Fergusson known for his abuse of prisoners during the 1745 uprising.
In a disquieting account from one prisoner Felix O’Neill, he claimed Ferguson “used me with the barbarity of a pirate”.
The prisoner claims he was stripped and whipped which is reminiscent of the punishment Black Jack inflicted on Jamie.
Other Redcoats from history include Major James Lockhart, Colonel Edward Cornwallis and Colonel John Grant.
Is Captain Black Jack Randall A Real Person
These figures were known for their partiality for indiscriminate violence both psychical and sexual as well as burning and stealing from their victims.
Outlander seasons 1 to 5 are streaming on Amazon Prime Video now
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