Archer Fordham

"You've done your country a service and it has been an honour to work with you."

- Archer Fordham to John Marston

Archer Fordham is a supporting character featured in Red Dead Redemption. Fordham is a junior agent in the early Federal Bureau and the younger associate of Edgar Ross. He is characterized as being assertive and exceedingly capable at his profession.

Red Dead Redemption
Fordham is seen alongside Edgar Ross, escorting protagonist John Marston through the town of Blackwater in the opening credits of Red Dead Redemption. Fordham has participated with Ross in the detention of Marston's family and his extortion to pursue his fellow gang members.

Fordham is not seen again until much later after the Player captures or kills Javier Escuella in Nuevo Paraiso. Fordham arrives by motor car with Ross and reiterates that Marston must deal with Williamson and return to Blackwater.

Fordham unwaveringly supports Ross in his dishonorable methods. Participating in a handful of engagements with Van der Linde, Fordham demonstrates himself as capable in combat.

There was initial confusion in the community but it has now been confirmed by multiple players that Fordham is indeed present when the U.S army, under orders of Edgar Ross, assault the Marston ranch. Additionally, Fordham is present in the firing squad that kills John Marston and may be shot and killed by the player in the few seconds prior to John Marston being killed. He is the agent just left of where your cross hair first appears in the final dead eye sequence.

Mission Appearances

 * Exodus in America
 * The Gates of El Presidio
 * Bear One Another's Burdens
 * Great Men are Not Always Wise
 * And You Will Know The Truth
 * And The Truth Will Set You Free
 * The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed (Can be Killed)

Trivia

 * According to a tombstone in the Blackwater graveyard, his mother has been dead since July 24, 1900
 * Before the final confrontation with Dutch, Fordham will show himself to not be as harsh as his boss, telling Marston "You've done your country a service and it has been an honour to work with you".
 * Fordham and Escuella are the only antagonists that have a chance to survive the events of Red Dead Redemption.
 * Strangely enough, Fordham seems to prefer using the rather outdated Cattleman Revolver over more advanced firearms.
 * Also ironic is that Fordham's superior, Edgar Ross, prefers to use a more advanced and modern High Power Pistol while Fordham wields an older Cattleman Revolver, even though it seems this would be quite the opposite due to Ross being considerably older than Fordham.