Quote Originally Posted by mddock58 View Post
In "The Patriot" the main character was a composite of three different people of which Francis Marion, was the main influence. This is mentioned in the documentary on making the movie. The character of Tarrington, was also a composite. The filmmakers were trying to give the FICTIONAL story historic accuracy (at least to some degree).
You are partially correct.

Benjamin Martin was a composite of five historical personalities, while Colonel William Tavington (not Tarrington) was based on one historical personality.

The following found on the Patriot Resource: http://www.patriotresource.com/film/index.html gives more background:

The character of Benjamin Martin was originally meant to be The Swamp Fox, Francis Marion, but for the sake of telling the best 'dramatic' story and perhaps avoiding some controversy, the filmmakers fictionalized the character and the story. They then added elements of the historic figures of Elijah Clarke, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, Andrew Pickens and Thomas Sumter to the character of Benjamin Martin. Such a move also covered for the historical inaccuracies that always appear in films.
(None of which helped to avoid "controversy" or cover "historical inaccuracies" )

http://www.patriotresource.com/characters/benjamin.html

The repulsive and brutal character of Tavington was based on Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton. Tavington, like Tarleton, believed that civilians aiding and abetting the Patriots had chosen sides in the war and as a result, deserved to be treated as combatants or punished as spies.

http://www.patriotresource.com/chara...tavington.html