Robert

**Robert** (portrayed to Louis Serkis) is a child related to the Delaney family.

## Character Overview

**Robert** is a fearful emaciated boy. He has fair skin, short black hair, and lively eyes. Smart and attentive, Robert is an ingenious boy who wants to prove himself to the criminal gang led by James Delaney.

## Story

Background

Robert is a child that Horace Delaney entrusted to the care of Ibbotson for a fee, until such time as James Delaney decided to welcome him into his band of criminals.

Working for James Delaney

Living with Ibbotson, Robert worked as a farmer in a rural farmhouse taking care of the stable duties. James Delaney became aware of the boy's existence during a visit to the farmhouse. Robert looked from afar at the so-called Devil Delaney whilst he honoured his father's deal with Ibbotson.

After James killed and disembowelled an assassin sent to kill him by the Americans, he looked up to ensure that Robert has witnessed the murder through the window of his home. They lock eyes for a moment, before Robert backs away, terrified of what he has just witnessed.

Robert was working to rekindle the fire in the fireplace when James Delaney came to pick him up so that the child acted as assistant to George Cholmondeley. The child learned quickly the instructions of the chemist, but he was terrified by the presence of James Delaney. The chemist deduced that the two were father and son, but Delaney did not deny nor confirmed the theory.

By continuing to work for Delaney, Robert went with the rest of the undercover team to carry gunpowder in a hearse so that the cargo was handed over to the Americans as stipulated in the previous agreement. When some soldiers wanted to check the actual cargo, promptly Robert slipped into one of the coffins, pretending to be one of the deceased carried in the hearse. This action earned him Atticus' compliments.

When James Delaney walked away from the City to carry out some secret tasks, Robert was taken to Chester House by Dr Cholmondeley, where he was put under the care of Mrs. Lorna Bow. By acting as a servant, Robert brought dinner to James up in the attic and was instructed by the man to guard a security key. Later, when James returned home, Robert was helping Lorna in the kitchen to peel some potatoes.

Instructed by James about what to do, Robert recovered some letters from a trunk in the attic, opening it with a key that had been entrusted to guard, and immediately pledged to gather all the men of James Delaney so that they could put in action their final plan against East India Company and the Crown. Robert made sure to inform James about their plans while the latter was still in prison, singing code words to inform his master. Once fulfilled his duties, Robert was on the ship that sailed to Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal, together with James and the rest of the survivors.

## Gallery

* Promotional Stills
* Screencaps

## Appearances

Series 1
* Episode 1
* Episode 4
* Episode 5
* Episode 6
* Episode 7
* Episode 8

## Notes

* Presented in the story as Horace Delaney's illegitimate son, "Episode 5" introduces through Cholmondeley's suspicions the possibility that Robert is, in fact, the son of James Delaney instead.

## References

1. ↑  Knight, Steven (writer) & Nyholm, Kristoffer (director); January 7, 2017 BBC; January 10, 2017, FX; "Episode 1". *Taboo*.
2. ↑  Knight, Steven & Ballou, Emily (writer) & Nyholm, Kristoffer (director); January 28, 2017 BBC; January 31, 2017, FX; "Episode 4". *Taboo*.
3. ↑  Knight, Steven & Hervey, Ben (writer) & Engström, Anders (director); February 4, 2017 BBC; February 7, 2017, FX; "Episode 5". *Taboo*.
4. ↑  Hardy, Chips & Knight, Steven (writer) & Engström, Anders (director); February 11, 2017 BBC; February 14, 2017, FX; "Episode 6". *Taboo*.
5. ↑  Knight, Steven (writer) & Engström, Anders (director); February 18, 2017 BBC; February 21, 2017, FX; "Episode 7". *Taboo*.
6. ↑  Knight, Steven (writer) & Engström, Anders (director); February 25, 2017 BBC; February 28, 2017, FX; "Episode 8". *Taboo*.
7. ↑ *Who Is The Boy In 'Taboo'? Episode 5 May Reveal Robert's Mysterious Identity* — Movieplot.com
8. ↑ Taboo: Who is Robert and can Thorne live much longer? – The Week