Harper is really a kind, loving man, with a particular love for birdwatching, but in battle he becomes a fierce fighter, shouting in Irish. His weapon of choice is a hugely powerful seven-barrelled Nock gun that Sharpe gave him. Harper helped Sharpe capture the French Imperial Eagle at the Battle of Talavera.Harper is wrongly flogged during the Sharpe's Company novel, thanks to Sharpe's bitter enemy Hakeswill. Harper and Sharpe develop a more intense bond of friendship as a result.During their time in Spain, Harper met Isabella, whom he later married and brought to Ireland. Sharpe helped him get discharged from the army after The Battle of Toulouse, but that didn't stop him from returning to help Sharpe at Waterloo.After the wars, Harper set up an illegal horse theft business in Dublin, which he used as an excuse to Isabella to leave for Waterloo. Harper also owns a successful pub business in Dublin. He bought it, and his other property, using his share of the money that Harper and Sharpe got from cashing in the jewels they recovered from the French baggage train at Vitoria, documented in the book Sharpe's Honour. He is considered a gentlemen and has wealth and status.While Sharpe and Harper were in the 95th, the sergeant of the small dispatch of men was killed in action, which prompted Sharpe to force Harper into the rank which he was later known as Sergeant Harper serving more or less as his second-in-command, in Sharpe's Regiment, when the Sergeant Major was killed, Sharpe once again promoted his friend to Regimental Sergeant Major.
Sharpe's Rifles:
Man in Black: You say you are an Irishman. Why should you be loyal to the British dogs, who want to take you to Lisbon to shoot you?
Harper: Jesus, you took the words right out of my mouth.
Man in Black: I can help you. Give me the box?
Harper: And if I do?
Man in Black: You will be rich.
Harper: And if I don't?
Man in Black: You will be dead.
Harper: Hmm... well, you're having the best of the argument so far.
