Happy Birthday William Hartnell!
William Hartnell 1908-1975
William Hartnell originated and portrayed the title character of Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966. His Doctor was a crotchety old man who could be quite selfish and intent upon getting his way. Also, he already exhibited The Doctor’s tendency to try and talk himself out of dangerous situations. Further, he wasn’t yet proficient at flying the TARDIS. (Mind you, it could be argued that he still hasn’t mastered the art of piloting his ship.)
In the beginning, he traveled with his granddaughter Susan. Next he kidnapped two of her school teachers, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, fearing that they knew too much about Himself, Susan, and the TARDIS. Eventually, his companions changed. He left Susan behind to be with the man she loved. Ian and Barbara found their own way home, albeit to not quite the time that they left. The First Doctor encountered Daleks for the first time in his second story. Little did he know how many times his path would cross theirs, and how closely their fates would become linked.
It has always interested me that the transition between the First and Second Doctor seems to have been the only natural regeneration that The Doctor has ever had. Perhaps it is due to his first body dying of old age instead of from poison or falling from a great height. In any case, he didn’t seem to be suffering from much in the way of regeneration sickness.
William Hartnell was born on 8 January 1908 in London. He died 23 April 1975. He would have been one hundred this year.
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