Byron Sully
Not much is know about Byron Sully's past. He was born on a ship somewhere between England and New York. His father was a farmer, but died when Sully was young. His brother was killed in a horse accident. His mother drowned in the Hudson River not long after that.
Sully's life had been full of hardships. When everyone he had was gone, he headed out west to start a new life. He began work as a miner in the Colorado territory. That's when he met Abigail Bray. He and Abigail wanted to be married, but her father Loren refused. They ran off and got married anyway.
Abigail died in childbirth. Their first baby girl, Hannah, died as well. Alone and lost, Sully joined the Army hoping to die in the Civil War.
Sully enlisted in St. Louis. When the Army found out he was a good shot, the made him a sniper. His first target was a Confederate Major. They had told him that the man was working on explosive shells at a test site in Georgia. The war department said if he did this, it could change the course of the war. A lot of lives could be saved.
When Sully finally shot the man, he was horrified at what happened. The man's wife and two children had come to visit and they saw their loved one dead on the ground. Sully felt such guilt that he tried to find out everything he could about the man he had killed.
The first thing he found out was that the man was not who he was told he was. He was a businessman who liked to play at soldiering. He'd been given a lot of war contracts. With him dead, the contracts and a lot of money went to his rival. Later we find out this rival was Senator Moses.
With his guilt rising, Sully deserted the Army. He wanted to die. That's when he was found by Cloud Dancing. He took Sully in and cared for him. From then on, Sully lived as one of the Cheyenne.
It wasn't until Dr. Michaela Quinn came to town that Sully showed any sign of wanting to give up his life with the Cheyenne. But soon, his friendship with the lady doctor grew into love.
Sully was arrested in Washington DC for his desertion. Michaela worked to find uncover the conspiracy in the Major's death. When it was revealed, Sully was pardoned and the family returned safely to Colorado Springs.
Byron Sully and Michaela Quinn were married on May 20, 1869. A year later, Sully helped deliver their first child, Katherine Sully, under an oak tree in the middle of nowhere.
After an uprising at the Indian reservation, Sully was wanted for treason. He and Sgt. O'Connor fought and the two went over a cliff. O'Connor's body was found at the bottom of the cliff, but Sully was nowhere to be found. He was believed dead until Michaela found him. He was near death, but she revived him and cared for him until he was well. Sully had to hid out in a cave because he was still wanted for treason. Through a very cunning negotiation, Michaela arranges for Sully's pardon. Sully was finally able to come home.
Sully's best quality: His passion for helping the Cheyenne and other Native Americans
Sully's worst quality: He doesn't think before he acts.
Sully's theme song: "Everything I do, I do it for you"
Played by: Joe Lando