James West

James T. West (Born July 2, 1842) was a special agent in the US Secret Service who served directly under President Grant and was considered the best agent the government had to offer alongside his loyal partner and best friend Artemus Gordon.

Birth and Early Life
West was born in the US on July 2, 1842 (many events, however, have contradictory dates unless we assume that the stories are not told in chronological order, which is entirely possible since they are almost completely episodic). Little is known of the early history and childhood of James T. West. In fact, it is not even known what the "T" in his name stands for. He is known to have mentioned his father once but there was not enough information to draw any knowledge about the man. What is known is that Jim West graduated from West Point college where he was mentored by archaeology expert Professor Robey.

Military Career
After graduating from West Point, Jim subsequently served as a Cavalry officer, rising to the rank of Major in the United States Army. He was decorated many times. He then served in the Union Army during the Civil War, attaining the rank of Captain. In 1865, when he was a lieutenant, near Vicksburg, Virginia, in the aftermath of a battle, he stumbled upon a wounded Confederate soldier. The man’s legs had been severely damaged. West applied tourniquets that stopped the bleeding and saved the man’s life, a man by the name of Noel Bartley Vautrain. This particular incident would later have severe repercussions in West's career as a Secret Service agent.

Recruitment into the Secret Service
It is unclear as to precisely when Jim West was recruited into the United States Secret Service. The Service itself was founded in 1865 but it is difficult to construct a timeline using our world’s history as a template because the world James West lived in is clearly a different one. It is possible to say that he was recruited sometime between 1865 and 1870. By the end of 1870, he was one of two agents (the other being Artemus Gordon) who worked directly for and answered only to the President of the United States, Ulysses Simpson Grant.

Secret Service Career
Even when we first encounter Jim and Arte, estimated to be 1871, they have already been working together long enough to have become best friends and to implicitly trust each other, although the exact details of how they met are unknown. They are presented as troubleshooters sent by the President to investigate threats to American security.

West and Gordon traveled in luxurious style on a train named the Wanderer, complete with numerous fancy and futuristic gadgets and a laboratory on board where Gordon developed and tested many new gadgets exclusive for their use, being the latest in secret government technology.

The Night of the Inferno
Jim is first seen as a prisoner facing charges for deserting the army. He is eventually taken to an army prison wagon by force and escorted directly to the president, where its revealed that the "desertion" was merely a cover for West's return to the Secret Service. Grant greets West and recognizes him as the best undercover intelligence officer they have. Grant and his officers then promote Jim to a special agent in order to have him investigate the town of Quemada which is under the tyranny of rogue Mexican officer Juan Manolo, and to continue to act as an undercover intelligence officer from then on. Jim is then given a new life as his cover, where he is now a wealthy "dandy dude" and "big spender" from the East traveling all over the country in his private train the Wanderer, which the government will loan to him until the end of his service. West happily accepts his new role and promotion and sets off in his new train for Quemada. Along the way there he is reunited with his old partner Artemus Gordon who has been assigned as his partner from then on, while also undercover as a wealthy "dandy dude". Gordon then humorously reveals that he was one of the officers that manhandled Jim onto the prison wagon, much to the latter's unsurprised amusement. After a friendly reunion, the two set off for Quemada on their first big mission as special agents and partners.

The Night the Wizard Shook the Earth
West takes on the role of the famed Professor Neilsen in order to keep him safe from a would-be assassin who has targeted him while the professor himself poses as his own butler. Unbeknownst to West and Neilsen however, this assassin is no ordinary murderer, but in actuality the highly intelligent and infamous Doctor Miguelito Loveless, a man whose intellect and ruthlessness is beyond ordinary human comprehension and will prove to be the most dangerous and persistent foe West and Gordon will ever face.

Retirement and Post-Retirement
Sometime around 1882, West and Gordon retired from the Secret Service, and the two would not speak to each other for four years due to a falling out over an argument they had, although neither can remember what exactly they were mad about.

By 1885, West had already settled down in Mexico in a small village where he seemingly had a family with four beautiful women and helped to raise their children (although it is unknown if these children are all his or if he acts as an adoptive father to some or all of them, but they are still regarded as his family), having been living there for quite some time while also serving as the village's protector. Around four years after retiring, he received word that the son of the late Dr. Loveless, his old archenemy (who had died sometime between 1875 and 1882) had threatened the United States with a weapon that could destroy cities much as his father had once done and they were asked to come out of retirement. They defeated Dr. Loveless, Jr. but realized that he had clones planted all around the world so they may not have seen the last of him.

After that adventure, James West rode off into the sunset, heading west, for the last known time.

Personality and Traits
James West is a handsome ladies man. Although small in stature, he is a coiled spring of energy. He usually wears a blue western style suit complete with vest, cowboy hat and numerous concealed weapons and devices. A martial arts master, West’s speed is amazing. Regularly defeating groups of at least four opponents in hand-to-hand fights, he was equally unmatched with guns, once defeating even an android in a fast-draw contest. Unlike his partner Artemus Gordon, Jim relies on his fists to get him past his enemies, or his seductive wiles to charm the ladies. He also has a knack for safe cracking which he picked up along the way in his travels. He travels in style aboard the Wanderer, a specially-equipped private train with richly appointed compartments containing a wide array of special of his suit coat, a breakaway two-shot derringer he can assemble from pieces contained in his bootheels, a grappling hook and line that can be fired from his revolver, and a special ring that can cut through iron bars. On occasion, he supplements this gear with more specialized equipment.

Behind the Scenes
James West was played by Robert Conrad who did his own stunts due to his fit and athletic lifestyle, and that along with his features made him perfect for the lead role. However, in season 3, Conrad suffered an injury on set during a stunt which threw a wrench into the show's production. From then on, especially in season 4, Conrad would do less of his own stunts, with the producers preferring to have a stunt double do the more "chancy" stunts.

Characterization
Sure of himself and quite confident, Jim West is what James Bond might have been had he been living in the United States of America during the 1870's. He is also never one to run from any fight. A notorious gunfighter once threatened Artemus Gordon while he was sporting an injured arm when Gordon said something about the man’s notorious reputation, implying it might not be a good idea for Gordon to have such a good memory. The gunman said Gordon talked big for a guy with a bad wing (meaning his gun hand). West said, “My name is Jim West. I’ve got a good memory too and there’s nothing wrong with my wing.

Quotes
'''Emma Valentine: “What do you demand of a woman, intelligence or beauty ?” ''' James West: “Beauty if they’re intelligent, intelligence if they’re beautiful.”

'''Emma Valentine: “Your ideal mate, Mr. West, is a combination of Aphrodite, Helen of Troy and Lola Montez. Oh, Mr. West, I’m afraid it can’t be done.” ''' James West: “Well, frankly, I like to do my own shopping anyway.” {Supervillian Emma Valentine had constructed a "love Mating Machine" computer and was curious to know who would have made the ideal mate for James West}

“Things aren’t always what they seem to be.”

'''Count Manzeppi (to West): “You have much to offer us. Oh, a certain flair for assassination. A charming capacity to overcome odds. In short, style.”'''

'''Artemus Gordon: “I didn’t know you liked toys.” ''' James West: “Toys, no. Dolls, yes.”